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fUBRARY OF CONGRESS.! 



', UNITED STATES OP ASIEBIl. 



The following are some of the Works by the 
NUN OF KENMARE, all of which may 
be ordered through Messrs. Sadlier & Co.: 

AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF IRELAND— from the 
earliest period to the present time. Royal 8vo, 600 pp. ; 
Three interesting maps, with upwards of 100 illustrations, $5.00 

LIFE OF ST. PATRICK, Apostle of Ireland. Thick toned 
paper ; ornamental printing ; magnificently illustrated. . . . 6.00 

HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM OF KERRY. Royal 8vo, 
500 pp. Illustrated 5.00 

" JESUS AND JERUSALEM," OR THE WAY HOME 1.50 

LIFE AND REVELATIONS OF ST. GERTRUDE 3.00 

PATRIOTS' HISTORY OF IRELAND. Hlustrated 1.25 

ST. CLARE, ST. COLLETE, AND THE POOR CLARES .... 2.75 

ST. FRANCIS AND THE FRANCISCANS 2.50 

INTENTIONS FOR MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION 1.00 

DEVOTIONS FOR THE ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR 

THE SPIRIT OF ST. GERTRUDE 1.00 

N. B. — The sales of these and otner works written by Sister Mary 
Francis Clare, have, during the past few years, exceeded two hundred 
thousand copies 



iet phess, 

AND WILL BE ISSUED WITHOUT DELAY: 

THE LIFE OF THE LIBERATOR, DANIEL O'CONNELL. 

This will be, perhaps, the crowning work of Sister Mary Francis 
Clare's life, neither labor nor expense having been spared to 
make it, both in a literary and artistic sense, a lasting mon- 
ument to the great Irish Tribune. It will contain the fol- 
lowing, besides many other original Illustrations, by distin- 
guished artists : 

1. O'CONNELL A BOY. 

2. " I'LL MAKE A STIR IN THE WORLD YET." 

3. O'CONNELL PLEADING FOR IRISH FREEDOM. 

4. O'CONNELL AT THE CLARE ELECTION. . 

5. O'CONNELL AT THE BAR OF THE ENGLISH HOUSE OF 

COMMONS. 

6. O'CONNELL IN JAIL. 

7. "THE RISING OF THE NATION." 

(These illustrations will include Portraits of the Hon. Charles 
Gavan Duffy, Denis Florence McCarthy, John Martin, M. P., 
etc., etc.) 

8. THE O'CONNELL MONUMENT IN LIMERICK. 

9. THE O'CONNELL MONUMENT IN DUBLIN. 

10. THE ROUND TOWER AND CRYPT IN GLASNEYIN CEME- 

TERY, ERECTED TO HIS MEMORY. 

11. O'CONNELL'S TOMB. 

12. DERRYNANE HOUSE. 

13. DERRYNANE ABBEY. 

14. O'CONNELL LEAVING IRELAND FOR THE LAST TIME. 

15. THE DEAD TRIBUNE. 

16. THE O'CONNELL MONUMENT AT THE IRISH COLLEGE, 

ROME. 

N. B. — Sister Mary Francis Clare particularly request? that all 
subscriptions and names of subscribers shall be sent at once to 
Messrs. Sadlier & Co., 31 Barclay Street, New York, whom she has 
appointed her sole agents for this work. 



THE LIFE 



OF 



FATHER MATHEW, 



ffiff* |)*0ple's BoQQUxfy %xotm. 



SISTER MA*RY FRANCIS CLARE, 

AUTHOR OP THE "ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF IRELAND," " ADVICE 

TO IRI3H GIRLS IN AMERICA," "HORNE-HURST RECTORY," 

"LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK," ETC., ETC. 




NEW YORK: 
D. & J. SADLIER & COMPANY, 

31 BARCLAY STREET. 

Montreal : — Cob. Notre Dame & St. Francis Xavier Sts. 

1872. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by 

D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C 




CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Father Mathew's birth-place — His early life — His affectionate 
disposition — Love of his mother — His courage — Story of 
the bad landlord — Father Mathew's vocation declared — 
The zeal and mission of the Irish priest 9 

CHAPTER II. 

How Father Mathew came to join the Order of St. Francis of 
Assisi — His love of giving pleasure to others — Difference 
between the duties of a parish priest and a friar. — Father 
Mathew in Kilkenny — His trouble there — How he was 
tried even by good people — How he bore a false accusa- 
tion — He goes to Cork 18 



CHAPTER III. 

Father Mathew settles in Cork — Crowds come after him — 
He becomes attached to his Superior — His depression and 
temptation after his death — The Devil tries to induce him 
to drink — He flies at once from the Evil One — A pint of 
oil better than a hogshead of vinegar — A busybody gets a 
good lesson 29 



iv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Father Mathew begins to be famous as a preacher — His 
sermons on the Passion — He preaches on the great charity 
of the Irish — His friend, "honest" Mr. Martin — He is 
urged to take up the Temperance Cause — He consents at 
last — " Here goes, in the name of God." 50 

CHAPTER V. 

How thousands came to take the pledge — Some account of 
Mr. Martin's style of address — He astonishes American 
tourists — The way in which Father Mathew gave the 
pledge — His great charity to the poor gets him into diffi- 
culties — A description of his room — How he practices 
poverty 62 

CHAPTER VI. 

How Father Mathew worked for God — His visit to Limerick 
— He is surrounded by thousands — His visit to May- 
nooth — Description of this visit by a student — He is said 
to have worked miracles — Some remarks on true and false 
miracles 76 

CHAPTER VII. 

Father Mathew and the reporters — A "model " young man — 
Confusion of reporter who had broken the pledge — Father 
Mathew hears a conversation not complimentary to him- 
self — He visits the North of Ireland — He is well received 
by the Orangemen — His wonderful spirit of charity .... 94 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Father Mathew's expenses increase — His generosity to public 
charities — His liberal donations to the bands of the Tem- 
perance Societies — He admires sound more than har- 
mony — An adventure in Galway — Not always pleasant to 
be too popular — His family are injured by his Temperance 
movement — He thinks more of souls than bodies — Cardi- 
nal Wiseman's opinion of him 105 



CHAPTER IX. 

Father Mathew a true hero — His fame will be eternal — His 
trials with those who broke the pledge — Thackeray's opin- 
ion of him — Father Mathew avoids politics — The reason 
of this — He assists the Repeal movement unconsiously by 
making the people sober — O'Connell announces his inten- 
tion to walk in the Cork procession — Magnificent demon- 
stration at which O'Connell assists — The Mayor kneels at 
the end in the public street to receive Father Mathew' s 
blessing 123 



CHAPTER X. 

Father Mathew visits Glasgow — He receives an address there 
from Protestants — His miraculous powers— Wonderful ef- 
fect on Mr. O'C How he made him actually dislike 

spirits — His reception on his return to Ireland — Amus- 
ing story about his brother John 139 







THE 



Life of Father Mathew. 



CHAPTER I. 



Father Mathew's birth-place — His early life — His affectionate 
disposition — Love of his mother— His courage — Story of 
the bad landlord — Father Mathew's vocation declared — 
The zeal and mission of the Irish priest. 




IATHER MATHEW was born in 
the " old country," the land where 
so many thousand good and true 
priests have lived and died, and where not 
a few have died the martyr's death and 
won the martyr's crown. All have worked 
in some way for God, but there are certain 
individuals destined by Divine Providence 
to a special mission, and if they, are so hap- 



10 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

py as to correspond with the favor granted 
to them, they leave the impress of their 
. work on thousands, and the veneration of 
their name is from generation to genera- 
tion. 

Father Mathew was born at Thomastown, 
in the County Tipperary, on the ioth of 
October, 1790. It was a troublesome time, 
to be followed by one still more troubled. 
We all know what happened in '98, when 
poor Ireland made a hopeless effort to free 
herself from her chains. His father be- 
longed to a family of high respectability, 
but he was a dependent upon the bounty 
of others. His mother is said to have been 
exceedingly beautiful, and evidently she was 
a very superior woman. 

Theobald Mathew was her fourth son, 
and, it is said, her favorite. How little could 
she have anticipated his glorious career, or 
the honor in which his memory shall be 
held even to the end of time. We have 
said, to the end of time, but it would have 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. \\ 

been fitter to have said, throughout all 
eternity. 

As the years roll on, and new members 
join the " Father Mathew Society ; " as now 
one husband and now another, one wife and 
now another, one son and now another, come 
proudly forward and join the grand phalanx 
of those who are free indeed, because they 
have ceased to be slaves to the most degrad- 
ing of sins, the glory of our Apostle shall in- 
crease, his fame will extend more and more 
widely. Even now we may glance up at 
him near the great bright throne of God, 
and see the crowds of souls saved, saved 
from eternal woe by that great man's 
prayers, by that good man's labors. Pray 
for us, blessed father ! You can still work for 
poor Ireland, and for the exiled Irish here 
below, by your prayers, as you once worked 
for us by your weary and incessant life of toil. 

The little lad seems to have loved every 
one, and to have been loved by every one. 
The big heart which made him so ardently 



1 2 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

desire the true prosperity of his country in 
after life, already manifested itself in his 
childhood. He was his mother's favorite, 
certainly, but he was far from making this 
an excuse or an apology for self-indulgence, 
or tyranny over the younger children. His 
greatest pleasure was to obtain for them 
every gratification, every indulgence ; his 
greatest happiness was to provide them with 
a " feast," the materials for which could 
not be refused to his little loving caresses. 

Thomastown, a lovely mansion, sur- 
rounded by a vast estate, was the property 
of George Mathew, afterwards Baron, and 
first Earl of Llandaff. When James Mathew's 
family increased, he left Thomastown, which 
he seems to have managed for his relatives, 
and took a farm at Kathaloheen ; but a 
friendly intercourse was still kept up be- 
tween the two families, and the Earl's 
daughter, Lady Elizabeth, though many 
years older than Theobald, never lost her 
affection for him. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 3 

Yet with all his gentleness, or, rather, we 
should say, because of it, the boy was brave 
and full of courage, full of that grand cour- 
age of endurance which is often the most 
difficult as it is the least esteemed manifes- 
tation of this virtue. He could not, indeed, 
bear to see even a poor animal suffer, and 
how much more did he not feel for the suf- 
ferings of his fellow-creatures. He heard 
of the cruelties which a neighboring gentle- 
man had exercised on the peasantry, and he 
heard, also, the strange stories of the friends 
or neighbors of the victims, who believed 
the unfortunate man was as fiendish in 
personal appearance as he had proved him- 
self in action. 

Theobald was determined to judge for 
himself, if possible, of the truth of these re- 
ports. He rose one morning early for this 
purpose, and without a thought of fear gal- 
loped across the country on his pony to 
the gentleman's demesne. 

There he waited patiently for hours, but 
2 



1 4 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 

the anticipated result did not occur, and 
hunger compelled him to return home with- 
out a sight of the evil doer. 

On another occasion, also, he proved his 
physical powers b)^ the fact of walking near- 
ly forty miles in one day when only twelve 
or thirteen years of age. He had been 
placed at a good school in Kilkenny by 
Lady Elizabeth Mathew, but when Easter 
came the desire to see his parents, above all 
to see his mother, proved too much for his 
patience, and he set out on foot for home. 
The welcome he received more than com- 
pensated his weariness, and the deeply affec- 
tionate nature of the man was shown by his 
frequent references in after life to this little 
episode, and the gratification with which 
he spoke of his mother's fond welcome. 

Theobald had nine brothers, and Mrs. 
Mathew, with the characteristic piety of her 
race, ardently desired that one of her sons 
should be consecrated to the service of 
God. How large a share her fervent 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



15 



prayers may have had in the future career 
of her beloved boy we can never know in 
this world ; but, one day, this and many 
other holy secrets will be rewarded. 

One boy, George, had been, indeed, des- 
tined for the church, but he soon proved 
that he had no vocation. " Is it not unfortu- 
nate ! " the good mother exclaimed one day. 
" Is it not unfortunate ! I have nine sons, and 
not one of them to be a priest/' But Theo- 
bald started from his seat, and exclaimed, 
with a voice full of emotion, " Mother don't 
be uneasy, I will be a priest !" 

He had long been called the " Saint " of 
the family ; he was now to prepare for that 
most holy office in and by which he was to 
sanctify his own soul, and the souls of thou- 
sands yet unborn. 

On the 10th of September, 1807, Theobald 
Mathew abandoned the world and entered 
the College of Maynooth, that asylum of 
peace and sanctity from whence so many 
learned and gifted men have gone forth to 



1 6 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

sow the good seed of Faith throughout the 
world. What the Catholic Church has 
owed, still owes, and shall ever owe to the 
Irish soggarthy may not be told in this 
life, but the tale of faithful service shall as 
surely be told in the next, as the reward of 
faithful service shall be given. 

It may, indeed, console the pride of those 
who are Catholics only in name, or at least 
but lukewarm followers of a crucified God, 
to fling a sneer at the " Irish soggarth," just 
because his manner, or his accent, differs a 
little from theirs ; but in heaven there will 
be only one manner, and one accent, one 
speech, and one language, and yet even 
there we shall find differences and distinc- 
tions, but these differences will be differences 
of merit, and the distinctions will be distinc- 
tions of reward, and the Irish priest with 
his thousands of faithful penitents shall hold 
his place gloriously, while those who once 
dared to despise him shall onty see their 
error when it is too late to repair it. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. j 7 

Where would the English Catholics ob- 
tain the priests for their churches but for 
the Irish, the faithful Celt, full of the zeal 
of Divine love, who has renounced all. 
earthly pleasures to convert them, like a 
second Patrick? And it is he who goes 
across the wide Atlantic, goes east, goes 
west, goes wherever there are souls to win 
for God or keep safe for God, goes with 
the message of peace to all men. Let him 
be blessed. Let his hands be strengthened 
and his heart be comforted. He asks only 
one thing. He desires only one thing. Give 
God your soul, keep it from the devil, 
work for heaven, go there when you die. 
Is it not this he asks of you ? Is it for your 
advantage, or for his? Give- him generous- 
ly all the help you can by word and deed, 
for in giving a little to him you give an 
abundance to yourself. 
2* 



CHAPTER II. 




How Father Mathew came to join the Order of St. Francis of 
Assisi — His love of giving pleasure to others — Difference 
between the duties of a parish priest and a friar — Father 
Mathew in Kilkenny — His trouble there — How lie was 
tried even by good people — How he bore a false accusa- 
tion — He goes to Cork. 

| HE ways in which God guides 
souls are very wonderful ; and we 
see these ways sometimes in a re- 
markable manner .when He has a great 
work for any man in the future. Then the 
man is led, often by ways that seem strange 
and painful, to the end for which God de- 
signs him, and then even mistakes are 
overruled for the better accomplishment of 
the designs of Providence. 

We see this overruling power in the 
early life of Father Mathew. My readers 
probably know that priests are known as 
is 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. ig 

secular and religious. The secular priests 
are under the control of a bishop, and are 
occupied with the charge of souls in certain 
parishes, to which, under ordinary circum- 
stances, their ministrations are confined. 

The religious Orders are governed by 
their own Superiors, and are sent hither and 
thither according to the work for which 
they are best suited, so that the Church 
wonderfully provides for the necessities of 
her children. If the parish priest or curate 
left his regular habitation, the people w T ould 
suffer grievously by his absence ; but there 
are times and circumstances when the parish 
priest needs more help, more assistance to 
carry on his glorious work, and then he has 
the good religious and the friar ready at 
his call ; ready to give missions, to hear con- 
fession, or to preach on special occasions. 

'Now,' if father Mathew had been a se- 
cular priest, he would have been obliged to 
live always in the one place. He could not 
have carried out the great and active work 



20 LIFE OF FA THE A MA THE W. 

for which God had destined him. We shall 
see how a mistake, or want of prudence, in 
his early life at Maynooth was, may we not 
say, the happy cause of his being a religious, 
of his entering the glorious Order of St. 
Francis, of that great Saint whom he re- 
sembled in so many ways. 

It is a strict rule at Maynooth, and a very 
proper one, that no student should enter 
the room of another student under any cir- 
cumstances. It is of course a still more 
strict prohibition against two or three meet- 
ing together, particularly for any kind of 
entertainment. 

We all know how boys at school enjoy 
the pleasure of a stolen feast, and boys who 
go to Maynooth have the same dispositions 
and inclinations as other boys, only they 
have a grander and nobler end in view in 
their collegiate course, and so they rarely 
yield to temptations to which others easily 
give way, and which in others would be 
very trilling faults. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 2 1 

We know that the young Theobald from 
his early childhood delighted in giving 
feasts to his brothers and sisters ; probably 
he did the same thing at school, and it is 
more than probable ,that he did not think it 
any harm to make the attempt at May- 
nooth. 

• But expulsion was the penalty for such a 
proceeding. Young Theobald made the 
attempt, and to prevent the public disgrace 
of expulsion with which he was threatened 
as a necessary consequence, he left the Col- 
lege in 1808. 

But his fault, if fault this was, for he had 
certainly no intention or idea of an overt 
act of disobedience, led to the most happy 
result. The young and thoughtful student 
had been much struck by the demeanor of 
two aged Franciscan Friars whom he had 
seen in Kilkenny, and he at once determined 
to seek admission into this Order. And now 
I must say a few words about this Order, 
and I may be pardoned for the digression, 



22 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE TV. 

because it is the Order to which the Apostle 
of Ireland belonged, and. I may be permitted 
a little natural affection for it myself, since I 
also am an unworthy member of the same 
Order. 

The Franciscan Order was founded by 
St. Francis of Assisi in the year 1206. St. 
Francis was the son of a wealthy Italian mer- 
chant, and he gave up all he possessed or 
hoped to possess that he might live and die 
poor like our dear Lord, who had not where 
to lay His head. On one occasion it is re- 
lated of the Saint that he went through a 
town with his disciples to preach, but never 
a word did he say from the time he entered 
the town until he left it. His disciples were 
not a little amazed ; all the more so, because 
he said, " My brothers, have we not preach- 
ed well to-day." " But, Father," they re- 
plied, " you never said a word." " It is 
true, my brothers, but for all that we 
preached." And then he explained to them 
that the poverty of their dress preached 



LIFE OF FA TITER MA THE W. 



23 



poverty, and the meekness of their manner 
preached humility, and the devotion of their 
appearance preached piety — and, in truth, 
it must have been in some such manner 
that the old friars in Kilkenny preached to 
young Theobald Mathew, for they said 
never a word, but for all that they obtained 
a new glory for their Order, and a disciple 
for St. Francis after his own heart. 

Father Mathew was consecrated priest on 
Easter Sunday in the year 18 14 by the Most 
Rev. Dr. Murray, the Archbishop of Dublin. 
His first sermon was delivered in the Parish 
Church of Kilfeade, County Tipperary,where 
he said Mass for the parish priest. His sub- 
ject was the gospel of the day,which told how 
difficult it was for a rich man to enter the 
kingdom of Heaven. 

A rich man was present ; his name was 
Scully, he possessed much land and much 
wealth, and as the good, young priest truth- 
fully explained that it was not the fact of 
possessing riches which kept people out of 



24 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

Heaven, but the bad use of them, he flattered 
himself that he of course did not make a bad 
use of them. He made a pleasant joke, at all 
events, for he thanked Father Mathew for try- 
ing to squeeze him through the eye of the 
Gospel needle, and as he was enormously 
stout, the joke told very well. 

Father Mathew was now sent to the very 
friars at Kilkenny whose example had been 
the immediate cause of his vocation to their 
Order. He now became quite famous as a 
preacher, and not alone as a preacher, but 
even as a director. Young as he was, even 
the aged were not ashamed, but rather were 
anxious to come to him for counsel, not only 
in spiritual matters, but even in difficult tem- 
poral affairs. 

Every one said there was " something an- 
gelic" about him; and so there was, for his 
great heart was full of love to God, and thus 
it was indeed that he became like unto an 
angel. His great work was in the Confessi- 
onal, from which he was rarely absent, not 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



25 



only on holidays, and on the eves of great 
festivals, but on every day of the week and 
all day long. 

Pardon me for saying a word about this 
weary duty of the good priest. How little 
people think of the pain and trouble attached 
to his sacred office ! They complain if the 
priest cannot hear them at once, they com- 
plain if they are kept waiting a few minutes, 
they will not wait if they are detained a little 
from business or even from pleasure ; but 
look at the priest, see how he is occupied 
hour after hour, day after day, night after 
night ! Do you hear him complain, do you 
hear him say a word ? Do you suppose that 
he does not feel pain and fatigue and wear- 
iness like other people ? He suffers this for 
hours, day after day, week after week, and 
you complain of it if you have to suffer just 
a little now and then. 

Father Mathew began also to be noticed 
as a preacher. His voice was shrill and weak 
and his manner was not very attractive, but 
3 



2 6 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

he was in earnest. He spoke to souls, and 
for God, with all his heart; and when men do 
that, all exterior hindrances become of little 
account. 

But Father Mathew was to be prepared 
for his great and glorious work by a sore 
trial and humiliation. The priests of religious 
orders were not allowed to hear the Easter 
confessions of their penitents, for, as we know, 
it is a strict regulation of the Church that 
we should all go to confession and commu- 
nion in our own parish church once a year. 

Some persons, who were jealous of all the 
good done by the young friar, informed the 
Bishop that he had not kept this rule. 

The Bishop did not wait to make further 
enquiries. Perhaps he thought his infor- 
mant was a sufficient authority, and perhaps 
God allowed him to judge hastily for the 
greater merit of the good father. 

One thing at least is certain ; while Father 
Mathew sat in his box, and was surrounded 
by crowds, a messenger appeared in all haste, 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 27 

and handed him a letter. He read it quiet- 
ly and then rose from his seat, saying to 
those around him, " Go to the other clergy- 
men, for I have no longer authority to hear 
your confessions. " And then the noble, hum- 
ble friar gently left the church. 

How great the trial was, to one of his 
sensitive, affectionate nature, none but God 
might know ! But God did know it, and 
Father Mathew was not unfaithful to the 
grace which God gave him in his hour of 
trial. How different his conduct was from 
that which we have unhappily seen even in 
our own day and time ! He heard but to 
obey. He knew he was accused falsely ; 
but had not his Master also been accused 
falsely, and had He not taught his children 
the example of silent submission as an act of 
the most heroic virtue ? 

If Father Mathew had rebelled against 
his lawful superior, he might have had the 
sympathy of a few ignorant or unfaithful 
people, he might have attempted to justify 



28 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 

himself on the plea that he was not guilty of 
the fault of which he was accused ; but the 
sympathy even of all the world would have 
availed him but little even here, and it 
would have availed him nothing in eternity. 
The plea of not guilty, though perfectly just, 
would not have been accepted at the Last 
Great Day as an excuse for rebelling against 
authority to which he was bound to submit 
so long as that authority demanded nothing 
that was sinful. 

It often happens that such trials come to 
those whom God has specially gifted for a 
special work. They are a preparation for 
the work, and a test of fitness for it. Those 
who fail in the trial are generally consigned 
to obscurity ; if they conquer, by God's 
grace, they enter on a long career of useful- 
ness which will bring great glory to God, 
great good to the Church, and great merit 
to their own souls. 



^ssaar^ 





j&^w^ 



CHAPTER III. 

Father Mathew settles in Cork — Crowds come after hiin — 
He becomes attached to his Superior — His depression and 
temptation after his death — The Devil tries to induce him 
to drink — He flies at once from the Evil One — A pint of 
oil better than a hogshead of vinegar — A busybody gets a 
good lesson. 

| ATHER MATHEW now removed 
to Cork, where there were a few 
members of his order in a convent 
which had been founded by the famous 
Franciscan friar, Father O'Leary. His supe- 
rior was a Father Donovan, a priest scarcely 
less famous among the people, though not so 
well-known to the public. He had narrow- 
ly escaped execution during the Irish revo- 
lution, and his thankfulness for his deliver- 
ance manifested itself in the very holy and 
practical form of a special devotion to pre- 
pare condemned prisoners for execution. 
With that delicate kindness which is in- 
3* (29) 



30 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

separable from the highest sanctity, he cared 
not only for their spiritual, but even for their 
temporal necessities. Many and many a 
joke went the rounds of Cork at the good 
friar's expense, for he " lent " his clothes so 
often to these poor fellows to die in, and 
" borrowed'' so often from his friends when 
he was reduced to the direst poverty ; a 
poverty that was as real as the good St. 
Francis could possibly have desired. 

Though differing remarkably in manner 
and appearance, he and Father Mathew were 
soon the greatest friends. They had indeed 
but the one object at heart, and each had 
this object so much, so entirely at heart, 
that they could not have any serious differ- 
ences as to the way of carrying it out. 

Father Mathew soon became as much 
sought in the confessional in Cork as he 
had been in Kilkenny ; but he did not now 
keep himself to the one work. He began 
to prepare, and then to execute certain 
plans for the benefit of his penitents, and, 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



31 



indeed, of all the poorer classes, who were 
the special objects of his tenderest care. 

Schools were then scarcely heard of, and 
any attempt to give an education which 
should combine literature and industry was 
entirely unknown. But Father Mathew 
set an example which has since been fol- 
lowed by hundreds. He established schools 
at the " Little Friary," as the poor houses 
were called where the Franciscan Fathers 
lived, and soon some five hundred children 
reaped the benefit of his care. 

Father Mathew's natural qualities were 
of no little service to him in his great 
work. He was, as we know, extremely af- 
fectionate and fond of young people ; he 
used the talent to win their hearts, not for 
himself, but for his God. He had a certain 
aptitude for business ; he used this talent 
to work for his Maker's service. He had a 
naturally energetic character; he devoted 
every particle of his energy to the service 
of Heaven. 



3 2 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 

While other men with great talents were 
misusing their gifts by abusing them, he 
had employed his for the best and holiest 
ends. He required Divine grace to enable 
him to do this, for no amount of even nat- 
ural gifts will enable us to persevere in 
good, or in doing good ; but God never re- 
fuses us this grace, and the more we use it, 
the more is given to us to use. 

The good priest rose every morning at 
four o'clock, and even earlier. We may be 
sure that no amount of natural inclination 
could enable a man to persevere in such an 
act of self-denial without any personal ad- 
vantage, and few even could do it for tem- 
poral gain unless compelled by stern ne- 
cessity. 

A friend once inquired how it was that 
Father Mathew was able to continue the 
practice of early rising. Pointing to a coop- 
er's work-shop in the immediate neighbor- 
hood, he replied, " If I w r ere a cooper, and 
bound to Mr. T , I should be up as early 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



33 



so as to be at my work at the appointed 
time, and thus become pleasing to Mr. 

T , my master. But I have a higher 

motive, and I serve a better Master, and am 
I to be less desirous of serving that Master 

than I should be to satisfy Mr. T ?" 

It is true, indeed, that a priest is bound 
in an especial manner to the service of 
God, but are we not all bound to that ser- 
vice also? In truth, if we only understood 
our own interest, it is the service of all 
others, and above all others, to which we 
should devote ourselves. Our reward is 
certain, our promotion sure. Our reward 
will be eternal, our promotion will be for- 
ever, and forever. What fools we are to 
neglect so glorious an opportunity ! The 
man who refuses to work for the Master 
who gives the easiest labor and the largest 
pay is considered a fool. What should we 
say of the man who neglects that eternal 
remuneration, and that eternal reward, 
which he may so easily obtain, and at so 



34 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



very small a sacrifice of time or inclina- 
tion ? 

But the devil will tempt them? Certainly 
he will. It is his business — his evil wicked 
business ; but, my friends, it is our business 
to resist the devil. A soldier going into 
battle might as well say " The enemy will 
attack me." Of course he will. What does 
a man go into battle for except to fight and 
win the victory, and if he does not care for 
the cause in which he is fighting, he does 
not deserve the honor and the glory of 
success, or the credit given to those who 
fall when doing their bravest or their best. 

We are all fighting with the devil for 
heaven, or we ought to be. The place is 
worth fighting for, and only those who fight 
w T ell and bravely shall win the day. And 
this fight is not like human conflicts, in 
which success is uncertain, or depending 
on many causes over which the poor sol- 
dier, however well he may serve, has no 
control. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



35 



A man who goes out to fight for his 
country, or his liberty, or even his religion, 
may never get the reward of his valor in 
this world at least ; but a man who goes 
out to % fight for heaven — if he is only in 
earnest, if he only uses the means that are 
offered to him, that are provided for him, 
can never fail, can never lose the victory. 

I pray you, my friends, to think a little 
about this. It is a grand thing to fight for 
one's country, for one's liberty, for freedom 
for old Ireland ; but it is a still grander thing 
to fight for heaven. Political freedom can 
only serve us just so long as we live in this 
world. We can only serve our earthly 
country just so long as we are in the flesh. 
But think of eternal freedom,, of that' free- 
dom which shall last for more years than 
there are drops of water in the ocean, stars 
in the sky, or sands on the sea-shore. Yes ! 
if you could count the stars, and the sands, 
and the drops of water, and then when you 
had counted them, multiply them by mil- 



36 



LIFE OF FA TITER MA THE W. 



lions and millions, you could not have even 
reckoned up one-half the years of eternity, 
for eternity shall never end. ■ 

Think how terrible it would be to lose 
your freedom for all these ages ! Think how 
terrible, how dreadful it would be to be 
chained in a pit of fire and darkness, to be 
tortured for all these ages ! Oh ! that would 
be slavery, that would be the loss of 
freedom, to which all human slavery, all 
human loss of liberty would be but as if 
you imprisoned a sunbeam for a second. 

Suppose that you imprisoned a bird for 
just a minute, and then let it free, what 
would result? It would feel pain at its cap- 
tivity for that second, but when you let it 
free, it would soar away through the blue 
sky singing, and all thought of its pain 
would be gone. Such are the effects of 
earthly captivity, of loss of temporal liberty, 
when compared with eternal freedom. 

But if you placed that poor imprisoned 
bird in a fiery furnace and could keep it 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. ' 37 

there, still living, still suffering, year after 
year — oh ! how terrible its fate would be. 

My friends, this is what the devil wishes 
to do with us. He has lost his own liberty, 
his own freedom ; he is forever in torment, 
wherever he may be, and his own evil wick- 
ed desire is to put us in torment also, to de- 
prive us of our liberty, to make us as 
wretched as himself, as despairing as he is 
himself. 

In order to accomplish this purpose he 
tempts us. He is ^wise enough, for he is 
still a spirit, though fallen. He has the 
knowledge of the angel, which he once was, 
with the craft and cunningness of the devil, 
which he now is. He knows very well that 
if he came to us openly and said, " Will you 
go to hell?" that we would refuse to go, so 
he is obliged to entice us there, to persuade 
us to go, fancying all the time, that we are 
pleasing ourselves. How miserable, how 
wretchedly miserable will be our state, when 
we come to see that we were pleasing the 
4 



3 8 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

devil all the time that we thought we were 
enjoying our liberty ! 

I have said already that when God intends 
any soul to do a great work for his glory, 
He generally allows that soul to be sorely 
tried. There may be two reasons for this, 
first, because trials prove our virtue; we 
cannot tell whether a man is a brave soldier 
or not, until he has seen fight. Second, 
because people who have been tempted 
themselves know best how to help others to 
resist temptations, ever^ as a man who has 
seen long service in the wars is better fitted 
to lead on an army to fight than a raw 
recruit. 

Father Mathew was to be the Apostle of 
Temperance. The devil probably knew 
this, for the fallen spirits know many things 
of which we are ignorant, or can at least 
make better guesses about the future, and 
so the devil, knowing all the good that 
might be done by him, and all the souls that 
might be saved from eternal misery, deter- 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 39 

mined to try what he could do to hinder 
Father Mathew from his great work by 
tempting him to the very vice from which 
he was to save thousands. 

The difference between the saints and our- 
selves is clearly seen here. We are tempt- 
ed and the saints are tempted, but the 
saints resist temptation generously, they 
are the true freemen, and we yield to it, and 
are miserable slaves. 

Father Donovan died about the year 1820. 
We know how Father Mathew loved him, 
and what a truly affectionate heart the good 
priest had. He would not have been a true 
Irishman if he had not mourned for his friend. 
There is no virtue in hardheartedness. I 
thank God, the worst enemies of old Ireland 
have never charged us with that. There is 
no religion in being indifferent to others; 
people who do not care for others are seldom 
good Christians; they are generally indiffer- 
ent to God if they are indifferent to their 
neighbors. But it was not so with our 
glorious soggarth. 



4 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

He wept for his old friend, who was to 
him at once as a superior and a father. Per- 
haps he yielded a little too much to grief, 
we do not know, we cannot tell ; God alone 
knows every heart, and the failings of every 
heart He alone can judge. 

One thing is certain that good Father 
Mathew gave way to grief, even to some 
degree of despondency ; that he refused to 
visit his friends, who kindly tried to console 
him in his sorrow. But they did what they 
could for him according to their ideas of 
friendship, and one person sent him some 
spirits, which was then, as alas ! by too many 
now, considered a patent remedy in such 
cases. 

But Father Mathew did not care for 
spirits, and it lay in the cupboard untouch- 
ed. Evening came, the room was dark 
and gloomy, poor Father Mathew was 
weary from his long day's work, he missed 
more than ever the gentle voice and pleas- 
ant word of his dear old Father Donovan, 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



41 



he sat down by his lonely fire, and as it 
became darker and darker, and his poor 
loving heart became more and more sad, he 
heard a voice, it was the voice of the devil, 
but the devil knows very well how to dis- 
guise himself. 

" Father Mathew," he said, " that liquor 
in the cupboard is delicious. You have not 
tasted it. Why don't you try it ?" 

Father Mathew. absorbed in his sorrow, 
did not seem to notice the strange voice at 
first, and only said quietly, 

" Tea is much better." 

But the enemy was not to be stopped so 
easily, and he spoke again — 

" But you did not taste the liquor; it is 
delicious ; only try it." 

Yes ! that was just all he wanted, " only 
try it," " only have a taste," "just one drop to 
keep up your spirit." Oh, my friends ! how 
many thousands and thousands has the devil 
got to hell by tempting them, not indeed 
openly, as he did Father Mathew, but in 
4* 



42 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

secret in their hearts, or by the voice of a 
friend — u Why not try it? Only taste a 
drop," and one taste led on to another, and 
"one drop" to another, until the poor soul 
was dragged down to hell, where he must 
thirst and thirst forever, without one drop 
of water to satisfy his terrible and never- 
ceasing cry. 

Father Mathew knew it was the devil 
now, but he was a holy man, and he resisted 
temptation. He did not try to answer or 
to argue with the fiend, but he took refuge 
in flight. 

He seized his hat and ran to the parish 
priest at once, a good old man, and told 
him all. This priest was Father Collins, 
then in his seventieth year. He assured 
the young friar that it was the devil, ot 
which indeed there could be no doubt, and 
told him he had done well to resist the temp- 
tation. But our good soggavth was not 
satisfied with merely resisting temptation, 
he took care also to keep it from him. He 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 43 

took care to avoid further occasions of 
danger. 

Next morning, he sent the bottle of spirits 
to a friend, and thus ended the temptation, 
and thus was the glorious victory won. And 
in this also, we have another great lesson. 

It is the abuse of intoxicating drinks 
which is so dangerous, and not the proper 
use of them. Those who can use them in 
moderation, may do so; but when there is 
the least danger, the only safety is in flight 
from all occasions of temptation, and in 
Total Abstinence. 

Another trouble came soon after. How 
happy it was that the good father was so 
well prepared to meet it ! He had taken 
a young brother to live with him, soon after 
the death of Father Donovan. The boy re- 
paid his brother's love, by the kindest, 
tenderest affection; but like many another 
youth, he had a taste for roaming, and this 
was so irresistible, that Father Mathew was 
obliged to allow him to indulge it. 



44 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

An elder brother was trading in Africa, 
and he took the boy with him. Here he 
found an early grave, and died of sun-stroke 
after a few hours' illness. This was a terri- 
ble blow to the priest. He looked, day 
after day, for the boy's return, whom he 
loved almost as a mother. Day after day, 
when the lad was with him, he had hidden 
himself behind a door about the time when 
he expected Father Mathew to return from 
his duties in the schools, or from visiting 
the poor, and day after day he repeated the 
same loving trick, by springing out on him, 
to give and receive a surprise, and a fond 
caress. 

To the boy the freshness of youth made 
the trick always new. The fondness of love 
made it always dear to the priest. He 
hoped, day after day, as he came home, for 
the same pleasant surprise ; but the arms 
which had wound round him so often and 
so fondly were already mouldering in dust. 

Our good Father had a severe struggle 



LIFE OF FA 7 HER MA THE IV. 



45 



for resignation, but grace prevailed over na- 
ture. It is true, indeed, that for a long 
time he could not speak of the lad without 
tears; but they were tears of resignation, 
and such tears will only enhance the future 
glory of him by whom they were shed. 

Like all those who are gifted with un- 
usual intellect, and with warm affections, he 
felt any word or act of injury or unkind- 
ness more keenly than others, and, per- 
haps, as such persons do generally, far more 
severely than those who inflict such pain 
can ever be aware — at least, one might hope 
so, for there is much unnecessary pain 
given to others by thoughtless and selfish 
natures. 

But the priest and the friar triumphed 
over the man, or rather the grace of God 
prevailed over natural inclinations and nat- 
ural imperfections. We too often hear people 
excuse themselves for their faults on the 
plea that " they cannot help them," a mis- 
erable excuse even from a merely human 



46 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

point of view, for a man thereby declares 
himself to be a weak, wretched creature, 
and is unworthy of the honor of manhood. 

But it is worse than miserable as regards 
his soul, his immortal being. It is true, in- 
deed, that of ourselves we can do no good 
thing, no act which can merit the favor of 
God ; but it is also true that God never re- 
fuses His grace to those who ask for it 
humbly and sincerely ; therefore, if we fail, 
we have only ourselves to blame, and the 
loss is surely ours. 

Father Mathew used to say, " A pint of 
oil is better than a hogshead of vinegar ;" 
and what he preached to others, he prac- 
ticed himself. He used to say that when he 
was tempted to anger, or resentment, he 
struggled hard with the bitterness of the 
moment, "and then the rest was easy." 

There is an old Irish proverb which says 
that the " first step is the most difficult," 
and like many a wise saying of the old 
times there is much truth in these words. 



\ 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 47 

The) 7 are certainly true in all encounters 
with the enemy of our souls. If we resist 
at once, by God's grace, we are sure to 
gain the victory ; but if we hesitate and 
have a talk with the devil before we make 
up our minds to fight, we are putting our- 
selves in his power, and we are losing some 
of the grace so necessary for us in order to 
gain the victory. 

Father Mathew had great use for his 
" pint of oil " on one special occasion; in- 
deed, I am not sure that he would not have 
required several pints, for the circumstances 
were very trying. 

A lady (Why will women do mischief 
with their tongues ?) thought it her " duty " 
(When will some women learn that making 
mischief is never a duty?) to tell Father 
Mathew that another priest had spoken 
very unkindly of him at a dinner party be- 
fore a great number of people. It is not 
very pleasant to hear that we have been 
spoken evil of; in fact, one-half the quarrels 



4 8 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE JV. 

in the world arise from the repetition of 
such conversations ; but it is above all hard 
when the person who speaks evil of us is 
just the very person who ought not to 
do it. 

We may be tolerably sure that the story 
did not lose in the carriage, for those who 
are wicked enough to carry stories, are 
generally wicked enough to exaggerate 
what they near, and make the vesy worst 
of it. The story was told, but the lady was 
not a little amazed at the reply. Father 
Mathew had used his pint of oil so often 
that he was now quite master of himself; he 
had taken the first step long ago, he had 
corresponded generously with God's grace, 
and God was ready to help him in his time 
of need. 

" My dear madam/' he said, " I am very 
sorry, indeed, that my actions have not the 
approbation of this clergyman, for he is a 
truly good man, and one whose good opin- 
ion I value highly, and I only hope that I 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 49 

may merit it in future more than I have 
hitherto done." 

The lady was not too well pleased, 
for her mission of mischief had failed, and 
her vexation with Father Mathew was a 
proof, if proof were needed, that her object 
was certainly not his good, or the good of 
religion. 

Some time after, the same priest got a 
fever while attending the sick. He died of 
it, but the very first clergyman who came 
to him was Father Mathew, and he was also 
the most watchful attendant at his sick-bed. 
I think we may be a little proud of our noble 
Irish soggarth ; but, perhaps, it would be 
better if we prayed for grace to imitate his 
holy example. 
5 




CHAPTER IV. 



Father Mathew begins to be famous as a preacher — His 
sermons on the Passion — He preaches on the great charity 
of the Irish — His friend, " honest" Mr. Martin — He is 
urged to take up the Temperance Cause — He consents at 
last — " Here goes, in the name of God." 




ATHER MATHEW now began 
to be famous as a preacher. For 
many years' his ministrations were 
principally confined to the poor; and the 
good and true follower of St. Francis, who 
always loved the poor so dearly, was well 
contented that it should be so. But after a 
time, first one gentleman came, and then 
another, and then a few more, to hear what 
this man had to say, in whose praises the 
" old women " were so eloquent. They 
were very much astonished and edified. 
The holy friar used no words of human 
(50) 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



Si 



eloquence, neither was he what the world 
calls a clever preacher. He was too simple 
to use flowers of rhetoric, but he was also 
too loving not to use every word of tender- 
ness that could be used to win poor sinners 
to their God. 

His sermons on the Passion, and especi- 
ally those which he preached on Good 
Friday ? made strong men sob and cry. He 
told them of all that had been suffered for 
their sins, as one would do who loved Jesus 
so much that he could scarcely bring him- 
self to tell of all his bitter pains, yet as 
one who loved souls so much that he desired 
to give them all the help he could, to en- 
able them to reap the fruit of the sufferings 
of their God. 

He also preached many charity sermons, 
a task for which he was especially fitted, 
since his own life was one continued act of 
charity. An extract from one of the ser- 
mons will show his style, and it will also 
show; how common charity was amongst 



52 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



the lower classes in Ireland, as it is, thank 
God, in the present day : 

" If I were to pause to enumerate but the 
hundredth-part of the many generous deeds 
of mercy performed by the poorest of the 
poor, of which I, myself, have been witness, 
I would occupy the whole of the time which 
this discourse should last. Permit me, 
however, to state one simple case of facts : — 
A poor woman found in the streets a male 
infant, which she brought to me, and asked 
imploringly, what she was to do with it. 
Influenced, unhappily, by cold caution, I 
advised her to give it to the Poor-Law 
guardians. It was then evening. On the 
ensuing morning early, I found this poor 
woman at my door ; she was a poor w r ater- 
carrier ; she cried bitterly, and said : 'I 
have not slept one wink all night for part- 
ing with that child which God had put in 
my way, and if you will give me leave, I 
will take him back again.' I was filled 
with confusion at the pious tenderness of 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



S3 



this poor creature, and I went with her 
to the parish nurse, for the infant, which 
she brought to her home with jo}^, ex- 
claiming, in the very words of the proph- 
et — ' Poor child, though thy mother has 
forgotten thee, I will not forget thee/ Eight 
years have elapsed since she brought to her 
humble home that exposed infant, and she is 
now blind from the constant exposure to 
wet and cold, and ten times a day may be 
seen that poor water-carrier, passing with 
her heavy load, led by this little foundling- 
boy. Oh, merciful Jesus ! I would gladly 
sacrifice the wealth and power of this wide 
world, to secure to myself the glorious 
welcome that awaits this poor blind water- 
carrier, on the great accounting-day. Oh ! 
what, compared to charity like this, the 
ermined robe, the ivory sceptre, the golden 
throne, the jewelled diadem. " 

His work was to preach for the poor, as 
he believed that when he preached for them, 
he benefitted the rich. Certainly there are 
5* 



54 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



not two ways of going to heaven, neither 
will there be separate places there for the 
rich and for the poor, and while distinctions 
of rank should be respected here, because 
they are a part of God's providential ar- 
rangement for time, we should never forget, 
whether we are rich or poor, whether our 
earthly rank is high or lowly, that our rank 
in eternity will depend solely upon our merit, 
upon our faithful correspondence with 
God's grace in this world. 

Father Mathew commenced the great 
work of his life on the ioth of April, 1838. 
He had long seen and mourned over the 
misery caused in his native land by the 
demon Drink, a foul and filthy devil, a 
tyrannical and a wretched task -master. 
Talk of the slavery of the African, or the 
cruelties once exercised by the English 
enemy, wiry, it is but as a pin point, as the 
prick of a needle compared with the deadly, 
deadly agony and anguish and pain inflicted 
by the demon Drink. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 55 

At worst the foreign enemy could but en- 
slave the poor body ; the demon Drink en- 
slaves both body and soul. But could the 
former oppress the -unhappy Celt in this 
world, at the moment of death his power 
would cease forever; but the demon Drink 
could torture ages, and did torture and will- 
torture his victims to eternal ages. 

At worst the cruel invader could but 
drive a man from his earthly home, and 
send him forth to wander a homeless pilgrim 
for his life-time ; but if he looked for a city 
to come, for a home from which no tyranny 
could eject him, he need care but little for 
the trials of this life. But the demon Drink 
would drive him out, not only from his 
home in this world but also from his home 
in the next. He would make his earthly 
home the scene of misery, of crime, of 
hatred, of poverty, of pain of body and soul, 
but only, only, that he might inflict miseries 
a thousand and a thousand times more hor- 
rible in the life to come. 



56 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



The crudest landlord that ever ejected a 
tenant is mild and merciful compared with 
the demon, Drink. He drives his victims 
from the God-lit city, from the land of 
peace, from the Paradise of delight, from 
the Fathers house where the faithful poor 
shall be rewarded eternally for all their 
temporal sufferings. He blears and blinds 
the eyes of his victims with the tears of 
maudlin sentimentality, and those tears, 
unless repented of in time, are not the tears 
which God shall wipe away with His own 
hand in the heavenly Jerusalem. 

It was no wonder that Father Mathew 
desired to do something for his country, for 
he loved his country dearly ; it was no 
wonder that he desired to save his people 
from the very worst of tyrannies, for he 
knew well the injury which the tyrant 
could do. 

Mr. Martin, a member of the Society of 
Friends, had long urged Father Mathew to 
commence a temperance movement. But 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 5 7 

Father Mathew knew very well what great 
difficulties there would be in the way of 
such an undertaking, and he probably fore- 
saw that if he did commence it, he should 
give up his whole time, and even his life 
to it. 

He acted with the prudence of true sane- 
tit}^. We see that where there was the 
least danger of temptation, he did not hesi- 
tate for so much as a second ; in such cases 
delay is not only dangerous, but sometimes 
fatal ; but it was quite another matter for 
him to take a work of great importance in 
hand, and he should first be quite sure that 
it was God's will and not his own. 

After very much prayer and thought he 
determined at last to act. He sent for his 
friend William Martin, who deserved the 
epithet " honest " as well, and as truly, as 
the honest John Martin of our own day and 
time. The " friend " was overjoyed. He 
had obtained his heart's desire ; all he needed 
now was to see the work commenced, and 
he had not long to wait. 



5 8 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

Father Mathew appointed the evening of 
Tuesday, April 10, 1838, his school-house 
for the place, and seven o'clock in the eve- 
ning for the time of meeting. 

Father Mathew took the chair ; there 
were not many persons present ; no one 
could have anticipated the glorious end 
which was to crown the work even in one 
short year. But as he said then in his first 
speech in the great Temperance cause, " if 
only one poor soul could be rescued from 
destruction, it would be giving glory to God, 
and well worth all the trouble. " 

Certainly, Father Mathew was right. We 
would think a great deal of any man who 
saved even one*fellow-creature from a pain- 
ful death, and if we were ourselves the per- 
son saved, our gratitude would have no 
bounds ; but it was not a question of saving 
bodies alone, but of saving souls, and let us 
think what the loss of our souls would be, 
and let us think each for ourselves how we 
should love and revere those who help us 
to save our souls. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



59 



When Father Mathew had finished speak- 
ing, he said, " Here goes in the name of God !" 
and signed his name first of all in the grand 
roll of Temperance heroes, of the brave men 
and the true men who have saved their 
own souls and the souls of others by taking 
the Temperance Pledge. He signed his 
name thus — " Rev. Theobald Mathew, C. C, 
Cove Street, No. I." 

My friends, that was truly " a great day 
for Ireland/' for Ireland, for England, for 
America ; for the example thus set has been 
followed by millions, and, please God, will 
be followed by millions and millions more. 

" Here goes in the name of God ! " Ah ! 
my dear friends, if you are one of those 
whose very salvation, whose temporal 
prosperity even depends upon doing like- 
wise, I beg of you not to lose a moment. I 
know my American friends love the poor 
nun of Kenmare, as you fondly call me ; 
if you want to please me, if you want to 
make me proud of you, go, go, in the name 



60 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

of the good God ; don't wait to have a talk 
with the evil spirit, but go this minute to 
the priest, and take the pledge, and if it is 
impossible for you to go at once, kneel and 
promise God, in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that 
you will take it the very first moment you 
can. 

Go, in the name of God, and enroll your 
name in the Temperance Society of your 
own parish ; be brave, be generous, save 
your poor soul, and disappoint the devil ; 
and when you and I, through God's mercy, 
meet at His great judgment-seat, be assured 
that you will not regret having followed 
my advice. Oh, my friends ! willingly would 
I give my life, over and over again, if I 
could persuade you to save your poor souls, 
and to be worthy of your glorious country. 
I pray you do not let old Ireland be taunted 
any longer for the faults of her unworthy 
sons. Surely if the vice of drunkenness was 
unknown throughout Ireland, then Ireland 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 6 1 

would soon be " great, and glorious, and 
free ; " if her sons would free themselves 
from the degrading chains of the demon 
Drink — no stranger could hold them long 
in captivity. 

The public were now invited to attend 
Father Mathew's meetings, and as his 
school-room could not contain the numbers 
who flocked to hear him, and to take the 
pledge, he obtained the use of the Horse- 
Bazaar, a large open place where as many as 
4,000 persons could easily assemble. 
6 




CHAPTER V. 



How thousands came to take the pledge — Some account of 
Mr. Martin's style of address — He astonishes American 
tourists — The way in which Father Mathew gave the 
pledge — His great charity to the poor gets him into diffi- 
culties — A description of his room — How he practices 
poverty. 




HE rapidity with which the mem- 
bers increased, may be judged 
from the fact, that in three months 
from the day on which Father Mathew said, 
'•Here goes in the name of God/' 25,000 
people had signed his book; in five months, 
13,000 more were enrolled, and at the close 
of the year 1838, there were 156,000. Many 
influential gentlemen now came forw r ard, 
both to support the movement and to ad- 
dress the people at the meetings, which 
were held at least twice a week. 

The good old " friend/' now in his sixty- 
(62) 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 63 

eighth year, was the happiest and busiest of 
men, and prided himself not a little on 
being the "grandfather of the cause. " 

It was indeed a work, it is a work in 
which every one bearing the Christian 
name should join, for its object is the salva- 
tion of souls, and the material benefit of the 
human race. 

Mr, Maguire tells an admirable story of 
two x^merican gentlemen, who went to hear 
William Martin speak on his favorite subject. 
He did not confine himself to the elegan- 
cies of language, for he was very much in 
earnest, as all men are, as all men must be, 
who have a great work in hand. He says : 

" The writer well remembers the amaze- 
ment depicted on the countenances of two 
American friends, whom Father Mathew 
had brought with him to a 'soiree] while 
listening to a speech from William. He 
was in majestic force this night, and seemed 
evidently determined to afford his trans- 
atlantic brethren a lively idea of how things 



64 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

were done in Ireland. He revelled in comic 
pictures and droll incidents, and he wound 
up with his favorite queries, which clinched 
the argument, and left his imaginary oppo- 
nent trampled beneath his sturdy feet. 
Imagine this broad-shouldered, vigorous 
old man of seventy, roaring out the follow- 
ing questions and answers, his voice swell- 
ing in volume, and his vehemence culmina- 
ting to a force quite prodigious at the final 
and crushing assertion : ' What does the 
race-horse drink ? — Water ! What does the 
lion drink? — Water!! What does the 
elephant drink ? — Water ! ! ! It is good for 
man, beast, and bird ! ! ! ! ' As he shouted 
out the last word, which he usually pro- 
nounced as if it were spelt with a ' u ' instead 
of an ' i/ he was carried away by his ener- 
gy and literally roared and stamped, the 
American friends looking on in indescribable 
amazement, perhaps either dreading apo- 
plexy for the impassioned orator, or the 
sudden giving way of the floor, which, no 









LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 65 

doubt, William sorely tried. Father Mathew 
thoroughly relished his friend William's exhi- 
bitions of ' earnestness and sincerity/ as he 
rather mildly termed these grand outbursts." 

The following, which was accurately re- 
ported at the time — it was spoken in 1843 
. — will afford a valuable specimen of Wil- 
liam Martin's gentler breathings. 

" 'Well, my friends, how things are chang- 
ed ! thanks to your good President. I 
remember the time, when I was the scoff 
and scorn of all Cork.' Here an old lady, 
from the fruit and vegetable market, with a 
deep lace frill to her snowy cap, which was 
ornamented with a broad ribbon of the 
most brilliant hue, remarked in a most 
consolatory tone — i Don't mind what they 
did, Mr. Martin, darling — 'tis you had the 
sense, and they had not. God bless you ! 
you knew what was good for poor craytures, 
and 'tis finely you are this blessed night, 
sure enough.' When the good-humored 
laughter which this sally provoked had 
6* 



66 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

subsided, the speaker continued his address 
' 'Tis a great change for the better. But I 
knew it would be. When that meeting was 
held on the ioth of April, 1838, and your 
respected President undertook the task, I 
felt as if a load was taken off my shoulders, 
and put upon Theobald Mathew's.' Mr. 
Martin, finding his audience to be in the most 
amiable mood, thus pleasantly relaxed : — 
" ' I will just tell you an anecdote, to show 
you how foolish a poor fellow may become 
when he has a little drop in. There was a 
man, named Turner, who thought that he 
should go to the public house and take a 
pint of ale ; he had two-and-sixpence in his 
pocket, besides the price of two pints. 
Well, John Turner went in and called for 
one pint, and then he called for another, and 
at last poor John Turner fell asleep. Now 
there were some ' purty boys ' in the tap- 
room at the time, and they got a cork and 
burned it over the candle, and smeared 
poor John's face, until he became like a 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 6? 

black. Well, one said that he ought to cut 
off one of John's whiskers ; and when that 
one was off they did not think it was fair 
but to cut off the other, until John Turner 
was clipped as bare as a fighting-cock. ' Let 
us look at his pockets/ said they ; and they 
looked in, and saw two-and-sixpence, and 
they took it out. After that they got a 
looking-glass and put it opposite to him, and 
then they shook him to waken him. 

" ' John opened his eyes, and rubbed them, 
and took a peep in the glass. * Oh, dear ! 
Is this me ?' said John. l No, it can't ; it must 
be some other man. I was a fair man, and 
I had w T hiskers on me — and this fellow is 
black, and has not a hair on his face. Oh, 
dear ! oh, dear ! ' said poor John. ' Who am 
I at all? Well, if it is true/ said John, ' I'll 
soon find out, for I had two-and-sixpence in 
my pocket ; and if I have n't it, I can't be 
John Turner.' He put his hand in his 
pocket, and there was no two-and-sixpence 
to be found — so he said that he can't be 



68 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

John Turner. He then thought, if any one 
should know it, it should be his wife ; so 
he rolled and staggered to the door, and he 
rapped, and he says — ' Is it here one John 
Turner lives?' ' It is/ says his wife, who 
opened the door. ' Am I John Turner, look 
at me and tell me, am I John Turner?' 
'You are not John/ says the wife. 'John 
had a nice fair face, and had fine whiskers — 
and you have none ; and John, oh ! my John 
used to walk steadily and hold himself up 
like a man ; but you are staggering about 
like a drunken fool, and you are nearly 
doubled up.' 'Oh, dear! oh, dear! then, 
who am I ?' said John Turner. ' No mat- 
ter who you are/ said the wife, 'you are in 
want of a lodging, and you must be taken 
in.' So she let him in, and I suppose when 
he awoke in the morning he found out that 
he was poor John Turner himself. It is 
said there is nourishment in strong drink; 
but I say it is in the eating, that the nourish- 
ment is to be found, When I eat, I find, as 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 69 

the lady said who took the pot of wine, that 
it is doing me good down to my very toes. 
Here I am in my seventy-second year, and 
I am strong and healthy without their 
nourishment. Oh ! take the pure bubbling 
stream — 

1 Drink from the bubbling fountain free, 
'T was Samson's drink, 't is good for thee.' " 

There were 200,000 on the roll of the So- 
ciety, July, 1839 — ^is multitude of free 
men ; for free men they may be truly called, 
since they were no longer slaves to a de- 
grading vice which makes man contempti- 
ble, not only in the sight of God and His 
Holy Angels, but even before his fellow- 
creatures. 

Those 200,000 were, of course, probably 
Cork men, but a good number were from 
Kerry and Clare, from Waterford and 
from Limerick, and even from distant Gal- 
way. People had begun to talk of the great 
work. People had begun to help in the great 



7o 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



work. The newspapers, fearful engines for 
good or bad — I thank God, in Ireland, at 
least, the good predominates — had begun to 
report Father Mathew's doings. 

His fame was soon to go out to the ends 
of the earth, and certainly it had gone from 
one end of Ireland to another, had crossed 
the channel and astonished the slow-going 
Saxons. 

To see Father Mathew; to take the 
pledge from him ; to .be touched by him, and 
blessed by him ; this was sufficient reward 
for the longest and most painful journey. 
But never did Father Mathew send the 
poor pilgrim from his door, without having 
first fed and comforted him, and, where 
necessary, provided for his safe and easy 
return. A seat in a public car, and a trifle in 
his pocket, enabled the poor traveler from a 
distance, often of fifty miles, sometimes of a 
h undred miles, to return happy and joyful to 
his home. Thus, through the accounts given 
by the early pilgrims, of the good man, who 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 7 1 

had heard their story, who had sympathized 
with them, who had blessed them and 
prayed for them, who had treated them as 
a father and a benefactor, was the fame of 
Father Mathew spread abroad, even more 
effectually than through the columns of the 
public press. 

The expense entailed on Father Mathew 
by what may be described as the pilgrim- 
age to Cork, the Mecca of Temperance, 
was considerable ; and before he ever sold 
a single medal, he was involved in debt, to 
the amount of £1,500, notwithstanding the 
numerous offerings which he continued to 
receive as a priest. His resources were 
not increased, but his expenditure, even thus 
early in the movement, was so, to a very 
great extent. 

The lower apartment or parlor of his 
house, which was on a level with the street, 
was converted into a reception-room for 
those who came to take the pledge ; and 
there was the book in which the names were 



72 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



enrolled, and here the pledge was adminis- 
tered. It was in this celebrated apartment 
that scenes such as the following, might be 
daily witnessed. At all hours of the day 
and evening, even to ten or eleven o'clock 
at night, batches of ten, twenty or thirty 
might be enrolled. Some were sober and 
penitent; others smelling strongly of their 
recent potations, and ashamed to commit 
themselves by uttering a word ; others more 
boisterous and rude, their poor wives and 
mothers endeavoring to soQthe and keep 
them under control. One of this class, — a 
big brawny fellow, with rough voice, blood- 
shot eyes and tattered clothes, — would roar 

out, " I won't take the pledge, I'll be if 

I do ! Is it me ? What occasion have I 
for it ? I won't demane myself by taking it ! 
Let me go, woman ! I tell you leave me 
go !" "Oh, Patsy darling, don't expose your- 
self ; you know I am for your good. And 
what would his reverence say to you, if he 
heard you ? Do, alana, be quiet, and wait for 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 73 

the holy priest." " Well, hould off of me at 
any rate. Can't I take care of myself? 
Can't I do as I like? Who 'ill dare say I 
can't? " " Oh, Patsy, Patsy darling ! Is it in- 
deed Patsy darling ?" " Let me go, woman !" 
and, bursting away from the trembling 
hands of the poor creature who struggled 
to hold the drunken fool, Patsy would make 
a wild dash to the door, amid muttered 
expressions of sympathy, such as, " God help 
you, honest woman ! Tis you are to be 
pitied with that quare man." "Yes," another 
would remark, " an' a fine man he is, and a 
decent man, too ; if he'd only be sober." But 
just as Patsy was about effecting his escape, 
and swearing that he would never be the 
one of his name to demean himself, by tak- 
ing their dirty pledge, he was certain to be 
arrested by Father Mathew himself, who, at 
a glance, knew the nature of the case. 
Catching Patsy with a grasp stronger than 
that from which he had escaped, Father 
Mathew would say in a cheerful voice to 



74 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

Patsy, as if that gentleman had come of his 
own free will, to implore the pledge at his 
hands : 

" Welcome ! welcome ! my dear ; delighted 
to see you! Glad you are come to me. 
You're doing a good day's work, for your- 
self and your family. You will have God's 
blessing on your head. Poverty is fto crime, 
my dear child ; it is sin alone that lowers us 
in the sight of God. «Kneel down, my dear, 
(a strong pressure on Patsy's shoulder, 
under which, Patsy reluctantly sinks on 
his knees,) and repeat the words of the 
pledge, after me, and then I will mark you 
with the sign of the cross, and pray God to 
keep you from temptation." What could 
poor Patsy do, but yield, as that majestic 
hand rested affectionately on his tangled 
locks ? And so Patsy's name was added to 
the long muster-roll of the pledged. 

The good man had only one room be- 
sides the room where he slept ; being a friar 
of the Order of St. Francis, he was especially 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 75 

bound to exercise the virtue of holy poverty, 
which is the great characteristic of that or- 
der, just as learning and devotion to the 
science of theology is the great object of 
the Dominicans or friar preachers. 

His room was poor as poor could be ; no 
carpet on the floor. What, indeed, would 
have been the use of it, if he had had one 
there, for it would have been worn away in 
two or three days from the constant tramp- 
ling of heavy feet. But he had two framed 
pictures on his wall ; one was a good en- 
graving of the Holy Family, the other was 
done in needle work and represented the 
profession of St. Clare of Assisi, the first 
female disciple of St. Francis, and the foun- 
der of the Order of Poor Clares, which is, 
also, sometimes called the second Order of 
St. Francis. 




CHAPTER VI. 



How Father Mathew worked for God — His visit to Limerick 
— He is surrounded by thousands — His visit to May- 
nooth — Description of this visit by a student — He is said 
to have worked miracles — Some remarks on true and false 
miracles. 




ATHER MATHEW still continu- 
ed his unceasing labors in Cork. 
His efforts, great as they were in 
the Temperance cause, were only an addi- 
tion to the many works with which he had 
previously burdened himself. But the time 
was soon to come when his whole life was 
to be given to the one object, when he was 
never to cease from his work of mercy un- 
til he went to find eternal mercy from the 
God whom he served so long and so faith- 
fully. 

The city of Limerick was the first scene 
(76) 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 77 

of his missionary labors. . He had been in- 
vited to visit that town by his venerable 
friend, the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, a man 
simple and homely in manner, but of solid 
good sense, and true Christian piety. Father 
Mathew the more readily yielded to the in- 
vitation, as his doing so afforded him the 
opportunity of visiting his sister, Mrs. Dun- 
bar, to whom he was tenderly attached, and 
to whom he had always stood more in the 
relation of a parent than a brother. The 
announcement of his intended visit — of the 
coming of the Apostle of Temperance — pro- 
duced the most extraordinary effects, as it 
was borne from village to village, from town 
to town, from county to county, along the 
banks of the noble Shannon, and far away 
into the wilds of distant Connemara. Father 
Mathew, of whom mothers told their chil- 
dren, and of whom the old by the fireside 
spoke, his reverence was coming to Lime- 
rick! The first week in December, 1839, 
was a memorable time in that fine city. 

7* 



78 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



Even on the day before he was expected to 
arrive, the principal roads were black with 
groups of people from all parts of the coun- 
ty, from the adjoining counties, and from 
the Province of Connaught. 

During the next day the streets of Lime- 
rick were choked with dense masses — with 
a multitude which it was impossible to 
count, and whose numbers were guessed at, 
as being something fabulous. It was an inva- 
sion, a taking of the town by storm. The 
necessaries of life rose to famine-prices. For 
who could have anticipated such a mighty 
rush? and where were food aud drink to 
be found by those myriad mouths? What 
the authorities, the bishop and his clergy, 
and the good citizens could do, to relieve 
the necessities, and minister to the wants 
of the strangers, they generously did. The 
public rooms were laid open for their shelter 
at night ; for were the town ten times its 
size, it could scarcely have afforded ordi- 
nary sleeping accommodation for those who 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. jg 

now stood in need of it. Father Mathew's 
reception was an ovation such as few men 
have ever received ; indeed, still fewer had 
ever excited in a people the same blended 
feelings of love, and reverence, and enthusi- 
asm. 

Though with a serious and solemn pur- 
pose in their minds, the people rushed 
towards him as if possessed by a frenzy. 
They struggled and fought their way 
through living masses, through every ob- 
stacle, until they found themselves in his 
presence, at his feet, listening to his voice, 
receiving his blessing, repeating after him 
the words which emancipated them, as they 
felt, from sin, sorrow, and temptation. 

In a few days, the, I had almost said, 
Saint, but as he is not yet canonized by the 
Church I may not use the word — in a few 
days the Apostle of Temperance had en- 
rolled 150,000 additional members ; and here 
we may mention that, as few, indeed, of his 
clients ever went back, we may make some 



80 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

faint guess at the amazing amount of good 
which he effected. 

His next visit was to Waterford, where 
he had been invited by the Right Rev. Dr. 
Foran, where an immense multitude of peo- 
ple enrolled. Indeed, the success of the 
Temperance movement now became so 
great, the members who had joined it so 
powerful, that it proved injurious to the 
interest of the distillers, whose breweries 
were likely to be closed. 

It is an eternal credit to Ireland, how- 
ever, that there were few, indeed, of those 
men who made a serious opposition to the 
movement, though in some cases, even an 
unfair advantage was taken of them. The 
whiskey-seller wrote to Father Mathew to 
say that the farmers' sons in his neighbor- 
hood, who owed him large sums of money 
for whiskey, had refused to pay their debts, 
because they said Father Mathew would 
not allow them to pay for intoxicating 
liquors. This was of course a falsehood, 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 8 1 

and a very serious one, for the most super- 
ficially educated Catholic knows that men 
must pay their debts, no matter for what 
the debt has been contracted. 

It was foolish, also, to argue against the 
Temperance movement because a few peo- 
ple suffered from it; as well might it be 
argued that men should be allowed to sup- 
port a druggist's store by buying poisons, as 
it would be good for his trade. Besides,- 
we may never dare to commit sin, and if all 
the trade in the world were ruined because 
we refrained from one mortal sin ; it would 
be better, it would be right, that it should 
be ruined. 

There was a great deal of idle excuse in 
this, too. Selling whiskey, or gin, or cock- 
tail, is an easy way, and unhappily a very 
sure way of making money. When a man 
can make thousands of dollars by an easy 
trade, he is not likely to take kindly to one 
that will give him a great deal of trouble. 
Those spirit-sellers would soon have found 



82 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE IV. 

a new occupation which might have brought 
them in as much money ; but it would prob- 
ably have required more labor to make it 
pay. Had it been so, they would at least 
have had their reward in the next world, 
and that reward would have been perma- 
nent, because it will be eternal. 

Better to lose a little here, and to gain 
a great deal hereafter ; and better to suffer 
a good deal here, than to suffer eternal 
torment ; better to suffer the crudest pover- 
ty and the most terrible destitution, than 
to be the cause or occasion of sin to others. 

This was the way in which Father Math- 
ew argued : 

What filled our gaols and bridewells ? 
The effects of intoxication. What crowded 
the very lunatic asylum? Drunkenness and 
its effects. What fed the very gibbets? 
Drunkenness. " I never will give up until 
we are freed, with the blessing and the 
assistance of God, from all these deplorable 
evils ; and if I encounter, during the prog-. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



83 



ress of my career, the sneer of some, and 
the contumelies of others, I must expect it. 
Some there are, and it is strange, look with 
an evil eye upon me. But cannot I say in 
the words of St. Paul, ' Am I your enemy, 
because I tell the truth ? ' Let them show 
itie any one brought to gaol or bridewell by 
total abstinence ? Show me any one sent to 
the lunatic asylum from the effects of total 
abstinence. Oh, no ! not a single one." 

In June, 1840, Father Mathew visited 
Maynooth, where he enrolled eight profess- 
ors of the college, 250 students, and 35,000 
people. One of the students thus describes 
his visit : 

"I had the good fortune to be present in 
the great hall of the college, when the pro- 
fessors and the students knelt down with 
edifying humility under the inspiring elo- 
quence of an humble priest. The scene 
was majestically grand ; it threw back the 
mind upon itself; it drew forth in full light 
all that is high, and all that is amiable in 



84 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 

the Irish heart ; and to a day-dreamer, like 
myself, recalled in tender recollection, the 
memory of other times, and looked for a 
while like their revival. On an elevated 
bench, which extended along one side of the 
quadrangular room, stood the Apostle of 
Temperance and the judgment to come. 
The able and amiable Dr. Hughes, Bishop 
of New York, was present on every occasion, 
and showed by his feelings, how deeply he 
loves the land of his birth. Father Mathew 
was supported on either side by the masters 
and the professors of the college. The 
room was piled to the utmost extremity by 
the students, and several distinguished 
strangers were occasionally present. 

" A small, vacant space, under the bench, 
was the hallowed spot consecrated to the 
virtue of temperance. The words of wis- 
dom which he uttered, were followed by 
deep emotions of joy and astonishment in 
his audience, and the thunders of involun- 
tary applause that greeted each new acces- 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 8 5 

sion of converts, as they moved deliberately 
forward in successive files, and with eager 
emulation, to the arena of virtue and heroic 
self-denial. 

" For the more convenient management of 
so great an institution, the discipline of the 
college wisely separates the senior and 
junior parts of the community. The good 
man, after his first successful essay in the 
senior college, requested to be led to the 
junior house. He freely stated the object 
of his mission. They listened in silent 
wonder; their innocence was startled by 
the turpitude of the unfelt gratification, and 
their humility was alarmed by the exalted 
act of virtue they were invited to imitate. 
No postulant appeared, and the holy man 
retired with perfect composure, but not 
without hope. Their own reflections created 
a speedy revolution of sentiment, and they 
requested him to return. He hurried with 
eager zeal to see them again, and the little 
Benjamins, as he endearingly called them, 
8 



86 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

repaid his paternal solicitude by fully emu- 
lating, at each successive visit he paid 
them, the generous enthusiasm of their se- 
niors." 

While visiting Maynooth, Father Mathew 
was entertained by the Duke of Leinster, 
who vied with the professors in doing him 
honor. How well the good Father must 
have remembered the day when he fled 
from that very place in disgrace ! How differ- 
ent his return, crowned with honor, the ad- 
mired of all, the mighty conqueror ! Thus 
does humiliation which comes to us from 
whatever cause, even if it comes from some 
imperfection of our own, become the surest 
and the safest way to exaltation, even in 
this world ; for God gives His grace to 
those who humble themselves, and those who 
have most of His grace are sure to do most 
for Him, and even here they receive from 
time to time some little foretaste of their 
eternal triumph. 

Yet it is but a foretaste, for God loves 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 8) 

His saints too much to allow them uninter 
rupted praise, or uninterrupted prosperity. 

It was about this time that it became 
known that Father Mathew worked mira- 
cles. I use the word advisedly, and under 
entire submission to the authority of the 
Church, which has not yet spoken on the 
subject. 

All Catholics believe, or ought to believe, 
that our Divine Lord left to his disciples, in 
such ways, times, and circumstances as He 
pleased, the power of working miracles, of 
causing certain things to happen which are 
directly opposed to what, as far as we know, 
are the laws of nature. 

This is, for many reasons, an important 
subject, and one on which I wish to dwell 
a little, and to which I beg your earnest at- 
tention. The occurrence fronf time to time 
of miracles is one of the great marks of the 
Catholic Church. No one ever heard of a 
miracle having happened in a Protestant 
sect of any kind. No one ever heard of 



88 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE JV. 

any Protestant having performed a mira- 
cle. 

This is easily explained. No one but 
God can alter or suspend the laws which 
God Himself has made, and God does not 
give the power to work miracles to those 
who are not Catholics, and no miracles can 
be worked except by the power of God. 
Protestants are very fond of talking about 
what they call the " lying wonders of 
Popery." They do not believe in miracles. 
If Christ Himself had performed miracles 
before their very eyes, they would not have 
believed Him, and how can they be ex- 
pected to believe His disciples. But their 
want of faith does not make these miracles 
any less true. The sun shines all the same 
for the blind man, though he sees it not. 
There are so*ne Protestants invincibly ig- 
norant, so blind that they cannot see. There 
are some Protestants wilfully ignorant ; they 
will not see. 

They are like a man who has good eye- 



LIFE OF FA THEK MA THE W. 89 

sight, and yet shuts his eyes, and says it is 
all dark, because he does not wish to see. 
There is no excuse for such persons. 

Just as God was pleased to give power to 
his Apostles to work great miracles, so 
that, as we read in the Acts of the Holy 
Apostles, the wry shadow of St. Peter cured 
the most terrible diseases, and good Catho- 
lics took relics from his very body, hand- 
kerchiefs and aprons, and everything they 
could lay hold of, and then touched the 
sick with them, so it has ever since been in 
the Church founded by God on Peter. , 

From time to time, God has given power 
to certain holy men and women to work 
miracles. It is because they love God more, 
and have been more faithful to Him than 
others, that He gives them this power. He 
honors them because they honor Him. 

It is as if some great landlord gave power 
to some faithful steward or servant to do 
what he liked with his property as a reward 
for his faithful service. 
,8* 



go LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

The steward only works by his master's 
permission, and all the glory and praise of 
the good that he does, goes back to his 
master, so that it is both silly and untrue 
for Protestants to talk as if it lessened the 
power or glory of God when the saints work 
miracles. 

The truth is they do not believe God's 
miracles, and so it is, therefore, no wonder 
that they do not believe the miracles of 
God's saints ; and as they will not believe, 
they talk of them as "lying wonders." At 
the day of judgment they will know where 
the lie was. 

There can be no reasonable doubt that 
our Father Mathew was one of those holy 
men to whom God granted the power to 
heal the sick, and to make the lame walk. 
I am sorry to say that a Catholic gentleman, 
who has written his life, has written about 
all these miracles, as if they were perform- 
ed by natural causes ; but as these mira- 
cles are admitted to be wrought still at 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



91 



Father Mathew's grave, there can be no 
doubt that he had obtained the power or 
gift from God. 

A Protestant doctor with whom Father 
Mathew was very intimate, has fully ad- 
mitted, that Father Mathew did effect cures 
by his prayers, which were above the power 
of living men, which could not be effected 
by mortal means; but he tries to persuade 
his friends, as he tried to persuade himself, 
that they were caused by mesmerism or ani- 
mal magnetism, and further gravely adds 
that they were the cause of Father Mathew's 
death. 

If Father Mathew had died young, there 
might have been some excuse for this asser- 
tion ; but he lived to a good old age, and 
the wonder is, not that he died when he 
did, but that he lived so long, when we con- 
sider what a life he led of incessant toil and 
labor. But the Protestant doctor did not 
attempt to account for the serious fact that 
many of the most remarkable of Father 



92 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

Mathew's miracles were performed at his 
grave, where he certainly could not mes- 
merize any one. 

Such unbelief is excusable in a Protestant, 
but it is very pitiable in a Catholic. It is 
true, indeed, that the devil has great power, 
that he has all the power and craft of a 
fallen angel, and that God permits him oc- 
casionally to deceive people by false mira- 
cles, by making his followers do some 
things, which, to a certain extent are won- 
derful, because they are above our mortal 
powers. But he can only go so far as God 
lets him ; and it is certain the one-half 
of the wonderful things that are told of 
spirit-rappers and mediums turns out lies ; 
while ttie more you investigate the mira- 
cles performed by God's saints, the more 
their truth is manifested. 

And here I may observe, in passing, that 
the reason why the Church takes such care 
to examine all the miracles said to have 
been performed by a person, before he is 









LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 93 

canonized, shows how careful the Church is 
to discern the true from the false, and, fur- 
ther, that the Church is the only guide, in 
such matters, of what is true and what is 
false, because the saints work the miracles 
by the power of God, and the Church de- 
cides by the authority of God. 

Therefore, until any person is canonized 
or determined by the Church to have been 
a saint, we can only take his or her miracles 
on credit. But there is this difference be- 
tween a Protestant and a Catholic in such 
matters ; a Catholic, when he hears that any 
priest or holy person has performed mira- 
cles, is inclined to believe them, does not 
doubt that they may be true, and, if he finds, 
on inquiring, that they are true, he gives 
God glory ; and this we ought to do with 
regard to the miracles worked by Father 
Mathew ; while a Protestant at once denies 
and disputes without a single inquiry. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Father Mathew and the reporters — A "model " voting man — 
Confusion of reporter who had broken the pledge — Father 
Mathew hears a conversation not complimentary to him- 
self — He visits the North of Ireland — He is well received 
by the Orangemen— His wonderful spirit of charity. ' 




ATHER MATHEWS speeches, 
[and accounts of his meetings, were 
now regularly reported in the papers 
and, of course, .above all, in the Cork papers. 
The reporters were all well-known to him ; 
indeed he was especially active in canvassing 
among them for postulants, for the young 
men, as he well knew, would be the future 
and the most efficient supporters of his great 
work. 

The good friar was especially attached to 

one of the reporters, named L , who 

reciprocated his affection. On one occasion, 
L went down to Fermoy, to report 

(94) 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 95 

a great demonstration ; and he put up at 
the same hotel with Father Mathew. Poor 

L was not remarkable for his strength 

of mind or tenacity of purpose, and yield- 
ing either to the weakness of his nature, or 
the solicitations of his more sceptical friends, 
to use the popular phrase of the day, he 
" broke the pledge ;" he, however, insisted 
he had only surrendered it. At any rate, 
he was not then a " teetotaller/' though he 
did not think it necessary to apprise his 

friend Father Mathew of that fact, L 

was at his little table on the platform, work- 
ing diligently with the pencil some times, 
and taking his leisure at others as some well 
remembered passage was repeated by the 
speaker. Father Mathew was urging on 
his hearers the fact that no one had suffered 
in health or pocket from having taken his 

advice ; and, happening to glance at L 's 

handsome face, he found, as he believed, a 
happy illustration of the health which the 
"steadfast teetotaller " was sure to obtain 



9 6 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



and retain ; and placing his hand fondly on 

the head of the* horrified L , he thus 

continued, to his victim's ineffable confu- 
sion : " Look, my dear friends ! here is a fine 

specimen of a faithful teetotaller (L 

blushing deeply) ; he never tastes anything 
stronger than water or tea (L 's confu- 
sion increasing). There is the hue of health 
on his countenance — not the flush of strong 

drink (L red as a peony, and his pencil 

paralyzed). He, my dear friends, will 
never, please God, barter his moral indepen- 
dence for a fleeting gratification. He will 
not be like Esau, who sold his birthright 
for a mess of pottage (L wishing devout- 
ly that the ground might open and swallow 
him, or that, at the very least, some accident 
might happen to the platform). No, my 
dear people, my young friend here, is a 
faithful follower of the cause, and will never 
turn his back on the pure and spotless 
banner." Fortunately, here the personal 
allusion ceased, and the fondling hand was 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. gy 

taken from the head of the victim ; for, had 

the torture continued longer, as L- 

afterwards assured his friends, something 
dreadful would have happened him. It 
was, however, not all over with him yet. 

Father Mathew and L breakfasted the 

next morning at the same table. During 
breakfast, L- — desired the waiter to bring 
his bill. " Oh, no, my dear," said Father 
Mathew, "you are my guest here; you 
must not pay anything." "Thank you, sir, not 
at all — I assure you I must pay my own 
bill. Waiter, bring it to me at once." 
"Waiter, do no such thing; everything 
must be included in mine. I could not 

think of allowing it." L made a last 

desperate effort — " I assure you, Father 
Mathew, Mr. — — (the proprietor of the 
journal he represented) would be very 
indignant with me, if I allowed you to pay 
my bill. Waiter, bring it to me." "Do 
what I desire, waiter," said Father Mathew, 
with a manner that was not to be disputed. 



gS LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

L looked at the waiter, and the waiter 

looked at L , and L 's glance of des- 
pair was only matched by the waiter's look 
of comical perplexity. Before the docu- 
ment, respecting which this struggle took 

place, was produced, L was seated on 

Bian ;* his back turned to the hotel. During 
the previous evening and night, poor L 



had sought consolation in rather deep 
potations ; and, in the bill which was thrust 
into the pocket of the Apostle of Temper- 
ance, there was a fearful list of "materials" for 
whiskey-punch and "goes" of brandy and 

water ! For a month after, L fled from 

the face of Father Mathew ; but, when they 
afterwards met, the latter did not, by the 
slightest sign, exhibit his knowledge of the 

fact that poor weak L had sold his 

birthright for a mess of pottage. 

It was somewhat about the same time 
that two members of the Cork press were 
sent to an important meeting of the same 

* A popular abbreviation for Bianconi's car. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



99 



character. Having performed their duty, 
they immediately drove to a distant village 
at which the night mail was to stop, and in 
which they had taken their seats ; here they 
dined, and then wrote out their report. At 
the appointed time the mail arrived, and 
they occupied their places. There was but 
one other inside passenger, and he was 
muffled up in a corner, and was quite silent, 
and was supposed by the friends to be 
indulging in a comfortable nap. The friends, 
as soon as they were well settled, commenced 
a lively chat. At length one asked the other 
this question : " Jack, what do you think 
Father Mathew is doing now ? " " What is 
he doing? Why, taking a good stiff tum- 
bler of punch, such as you and I, Dick, will 
take, please the Fates, at the next stage." 
" Punch ! Nonsense, man ; surely you are 
jesting. You don't think Father Mathew 
is such a hypocrite ?" " Faith, I don't care 
what he is, my boy ; but I am sure the jolly 
old buffer is taking a stiff tumbler at this 



IQ LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

moment — and I wish I had the same." 
When the coach arrived at the next stage, 
the gentlemen of the press got out, and, 
entering the inn, called for the promised 
beverage. They had got through about 
half of their smoking tumblers, when the 
guard entered, saying, " Come gentlemen, 
time is up ; please make haste." " Halloo, 
guard ! " said Jack, the more convivial of 
the two, " take something." " I thank you 
kindly, sir, no — I am temperate." " You, 
coachman — won't you have a drop this 
cold night ? " " No, sir ; thank you all the 
same. I hav'n't tasted anything for years, 
and, please God, I never will. But I am as 
much obliged to you, sir, as if I took what's 
in the house." " Tell me, guard, who is 
that you have in the coach with us?" 
" Don't you know him, sir? He's one the 
country ought to be proud of. It's Father 
Mathew ! " It is not necessary to represent, 
with accuracy, the exclamations uttered by 
the doubter of the consistency of the temper- 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W, I0 I 

ance leader; it is enough to say, that he 
precipitately abandoned the remainder of 
his punch, and, scrambling up to a seat 
behind the coachman, thus accomplished 
the rest of his journey. The other, on enter- 
ing the coach, received a warm shake of 
the hand ; but, not a word was said by 
Father Mathew of the conversation, which 
he no doubt fully heard, for he asked 

where was Mr. ; to which the reply 

was made, that the inside of the coach did 
not agree with him, and that he preferred 
the fresh air. The sceptic must certainly 
have been peculiar in taste, for the night 
was frightfully cold. 

Father Mathew was invited to the North 
of Ireland by the Right Rev. Dr. Blake, the 
late Catholic Bishop of Dromore, whom the 
good friar used to describe as " that Bishop 
after St. Paul's own heart" The writer of 
this work had also the honor of knowing 
this excellent prelate ; and, as long as life 
shall last, the memory of his winning smile, 

9* , 



102 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

nis bright keen eye, and the warm affection 
he showed to her, must remain as one of her 
dearest memories. 

Father Mathew himself gave an account, 
at the meeting in Newry, of how he was 
received in the Protestant North. He had 
been warned, before setting out, that he 
would be assassinated if he went there, for 
part} r feud ran high, and a leading Catho- 
lic would of course be an object of dislike 
to many. But, for the credit of Ireland, no 
such crime seemed ever likely to happen, 
and Father Mathew himself said afterwards, 
in the words of the poet, slightly altered : 

11 Blessed be forever the day I relied 
On Ulster's honor, and Ulster's pride.' ' 

The good priest was, indeed, gifted with 
a very great degree of what, for want of a 
better or more expressive word, we must 
call " tact ;" and yet what looked like tact, 
what would have been merely tact or world- 
ly policy in a less religious person, was 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



103 



probably in him but an overflowing of 
Christian charity. 

This charity not only bears all things, and 
hopes all things, but it also suffers all things ; 
and the happy possessor of this gift will 
even persuade himself that, what others 
might think an insult, has been intended for 
a kindness. It was in this spirit, certainly, 
that Father Mathew accepted a display of 
orange flags as a personal compliment. 

" At Clones/ ' he said, in one of his speeches, 
" there were two orange flags raised when 
I visited it, and instead of an insult, I thought 
them a very great compliment, never hav- 
ing seen one, or been honored with one 
before ; and the Catholics and Protestants 
became the greatest friends, from that day 
forward ; and during three days, while I re- 
mained there, the parties were the best 
friends imaginable. " This is, indeed, a proof, 
if proof were needed, that it only requires a 
little exercise of prudence and Christian 
charity on both sides, to make Irishmen 



104 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



unite in one common bond, however much 
they may have differed on religion or poli- 
tics. Theirs will surely be a bright reward, 
who prevent or decrease these bitter feuds, 
which ought, for every reason, to be buried 
in oblivion. 




CHAPTER VIII. 




Father Math ew's expenses increase — His generosity to public 
charities — His liberal donations to the bands of the Tem- 
perance Societies — He admires sound more than har- 
mony — An adventure in Gal way — Not always pleasant to 
be too popular — His family are. injured by his Temperance 
movement — He thinks more of souls than bodies — Cardi- 
nal Wiseman's opinion of him. 

ATHER MATHEW had now 
reached the very zenith of his 
fame; not, indeed, that fame was 
what he desired, or was even in itself de- 
sirable to his noble heart ; still his personal 
reputation had helped his work, and he 
might rejoice in that, since his work was all 
for God. But he was not without his trials, 
as we have said before. What true servant 
of God has ever been free from the Cross? 

His personal expenses were necessarily 
very great, or, perhaps, we should have said, 
(105) 



1 06 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

more correctly, his relative expenses. His 
own private expenses were few as ever ; no 
one could have lived or clothed himself 
more poorly, with the common respect due 
to his position as a priest ; but his public ex- 
penses were now increasing daily. 

Mr. Purcell and Mr. Bianconi had given 
him a free pass for all their public cars, and 
these were then the principal modes of con- 
veyance in Ireland ; but this did not serve 
him much. He could not bear to see pover- 
ty without relieving it, and he could not 
travel far in poor Ireland without encoun- 
tering the greatest want in every village 
and at every town. 

Again, he was constantly asked to preach 
for some charity. It is true that he was not 
what would be called a fine preacher ac- 
cording to modern ideas, but he was none 
the less — perhaps it would be more correct 
to say he was all the more, attractive, all the 
more successful. He was full of his sub- 
ject, he thought nothing of himself, he did 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ y 

not seek to make an impression ; and if he 
did not fail to make one, it was because he 
made it unconsciously from his very earnest- 
ness. 

He could not preach for a charity with- 
out helping it, and as it was known that he 
had received one or two considerable dona- 
tions for the Temperance cause from weal- 
thy English gentlemen, it was concluded 
that he was the possessor of, or at least had 
the key to untold coffers of gold, 

In truth, these noblemen, with all their 
apparent liberality, did but give, for them, a 
mere trifle, a trifle which they had, perhaps, 
expended hundreds of times on some sinful 
or selfish gratification. 

Then, again, his very liberality led to 
false impressions ; for few could understand 
how any man would give away his last 
shilling, not once or twice, but fifty or a 
hundred times over. He was, indeed, a liv- 
ing example of. the toly poverty which he 
had vowed on entering the Franciscan Or- 



1 08 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

der; and though he was at times greatly 
tried, as the poor must be, for their greater 
merit, and the enhancement of their crown, 
he was also greatly blessed ; and it seemed 
that the more he gave away the more he 
had to give. 

The Temperance bands were also a 
source of great expense to him. Each town 
and society had its own band ; this was but 
right, and was a valuable assistance to the 
cause. Some one has said that we ought 
not to let the devil have all the good things 
for himself, and I am sure that if more 
pains were taken by good people to make 
religion pleasant, that there would be less 
temptations to sin for the weak and weary, 
and perhaps a better chance of perseverance 
even for the strong. 

One thing at least is certain, that there 
were new bands formed for each society, 
that bands cost money, and that Father 
Mathew was generally, and not unsuccess- 
fully, applied to for help. Each society, of 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 09 

course, only thought of its own necessities, 
which seemed to it the most pressing ; each 
constantly expected help ; and good Father 
Mathew was only too willing to give the 
help to each and all, as far as he could, and 
even more than he could. 

The drum was always the great feature 
in these bands, and the drummer, of course, 
the principal person. Many rare anecdotes 
were told of Father Mathew's drummers, 
and the powers they exhibited on important 
occasions. The strongest men were sup- 
posed to be the best drummers, since force 
was considered the best qualification for 
producing sound, and sound was the one 
thing to be desired. 

Happily for himself, Father Mathew did 
not know one note of music ; but what he 
could understand was sound ; so he and the 
drummers were excellent friends, and they 
received all the praise they deserved and 
merited. But they obtained something 
more. At the conclusion of the Temper- 
10 



1 10 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

ance tea-party, or picnic, or meeting, as 
the case might be, the great leader gener- 
ally sent "something" to the band, as a 
compliment for their performance and an 
encouragement to perseverance. There 
were necessarily many calls of this kind on 
his purse ; what wonder, then, if it was 
generally empty, however often any friendly 
hand might replenish it ? 

Of course, Father Mathew was accused 
of having ulterior political designs in his 
Temperance movement. There are some 
ignorant and hopelessly prejudiced individu- 
als in what are called the highest ranks of 
life, as well as in the lowest ; and where any 
Irish or Catholic movement is concerned, 
they seem to lose even any little sense that 
nature has kindly bestowed on them. 

But this was not all ; persons, who 
probably were seldom seen in any place of 
worship, and who certainly never tried to 
avert the thousand evils of sinful Sabbath- 
breaking, by which many English towns 






LIFE OF FATHER MATHEW. m 

are made hideous, cried out, long and 
loud, and with much elevating of eye- 
brows and frequent sighs of pious horror, 
concerning the innocent amusements in 
which he encouraged the people, after their 
religious duties were fulfilled, on Sundays,, 
He replied thus to those bigoted calum- 
niators : " There are difficulties which 
cause me more pain than the assertion of 
Sir Robert Peel— the insidious efforts to 
give to our society a political coloring, and 
to invoke a gloomy fanatical cry against us. 
The great body of teetotallers, it is true, is 
composed of Roman Catholics; but that is 
from the great bulk of the people being 
Roman Catholics, and not from anything 
exclusive in our society. A hostile dispo- 
sition has been excited on this account in 
certain localities ; and I must, also, complain, * 
with the deepest sorrow, that many who, 
from rank and station, possess great influ- 
ence, have not, to use the mildest terms, 
exercised it in favor of our society. 



112 LIFE OF FA THER MA THEW. 

" I utterly disclaim any political object ; 
my ardent desire is to promote the glory 
of God by drying up the fruitful source of 
crime, and the happiness of His creatures 
by persuading them to the observance of 
temperance. 

" Our musical bands, too, and our proces- 
sions, are rocks of offence to many. If it was 
allowed toany to object to them, surely it 
sh ould be to the members of your society [The 
Friends], who reject music and parade, in 
every case ; yet, you have all magnanimous- 
ly cooperated with me, despising the paltry 
pretext. I respect the religious feelings 
which disapprove of music and processions 
on the Lord's Day ; I would not, on any ac- 
count, offer violence to tender consciences ; 
but we, Roman Catholics, after in general 
, devoting the afternoon of Saturday, and 
the forenoon of Sunday, to religious obser- 
vances, do not deem it a desecration of the 
Sabbath, for such as have been earning 
their bread by the sweat of their brows 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



"3 



during the week, to recreate themselves 
innocently during the remainder of the day." 
Father Mathew's naturally strong consti- 
tution enabled him to get through an 
amount of work which few other men could 
have attempted. Indeed, we cannot doubt 
that God, who orders all things for His 
people, had given him this almost excep- 
tional strength, as it was certainly necessary 
for the great work to which he was called. 
The following record, taken from a Cork 

paper, will give some idea of the extent and 

* 
energy of his labors : 

" Father Mathew left Cork on Saturday, 
August the 10th, for Newmarket, where 
he was to preach yesterday the nth, and 
afterwards to administer the pledge. Of 
course, every one was desirous of seeing 
him, and, of course, all means were consid- 
ered justifiable that tended to so very desir- 
able an end. On one occasion, he had 
arrived in the dusk of the evening at the 
house of a parish priest in the remotest part 
10* 



U4 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



of Galway, where he was to preach in aid 
of the funds of a school, convent or chapel, 
and afterwards administer the pledge. The 
best room in the house was prepared for 
the honored guest, who was conducted 
to it by his host. The room was on the 
ground floor, and was lighted by a large 
bay window, which was without blind or 
curtain of any kind. Father Mathew, whose 
bedroom in Cove street, was as plain and 
simple as this apartment, only thought of 
preparing himself, by a good night's rest, 
for the labors of the following day ; and, 
turning his face to the wall, and his back to 
the window, he soon fell into a deep slumber. 
Awaking, as was usual with him, at an early 
hour in the morning, he opened his eyes, 
blessed himself, repeated a prayer, and 
turned towards the window. But, imagine 
his dismay, when he beheld a crowd of 
people — men, women and children, in front 
of the blindless and curtainless bay-window, 
and at least a score of noses flattened against 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



US 



the glass, the better to enable their respec- 
tive proprietors to obtain a peep at his 
reverence. A more modest man did not 
exist than Father Mathew ; and great was 
his embarrassment at this indication of his 
popularity. He glanced at the head of the 
bed, and at the table near him, to see if a 
bell were in reach ; but such a luxury in 
the house of a priest, in a mountain parish 
of Gal way, was not to be thought of. No 
help, therefore, from that quarter. There 
was something resembling a bell-pull near 
the fire-place, but if not a mockery and a 
delusion, it might as well have been twenty 
miles away, for any practical advantage at 
that moment ; for it would be difficult to 
say what would induce Father Mathew to 
quit the shelter of the bed-clothes, and 
walk across the room to grasp that tantaliz- 
ing cord. 

" The crowd outside was momentarily on 
the increase, and the deepening murmur of 
their voices testified to the animation of 



1 16 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

the conversation carried on. Occasionally 
might be heard such as the following : ' Do 
ye see him, Mary, astore?' ' Danny, agra, 
lave me take a look, an' God bless you, 
child !' ' Where are you pushing with yer- 
self? Hould off ov my foot, will ye ?' ' Oh, 
wisha! There is the blessed priest?' 'Honest 
man, would ye be plazed to lift off ov our 
back — one 'ud think 'tis a horse I was.' ' Tis 
a shame for ye to be there — what curosity 
is in yes all !' ' Mammy, mammy ! there he 
is ! — I sees his poll !' ' Whisht, an' don't be 
after wakin' him.' Father Mathew ventured 
another peep ; but the slightest movement 
on his part only evoked increased anxiety 
outside ; and it seemed to him as if the win- 
dow-pains were every moment accommo- 
dating a larger number of flattened noses. 
The poor man felt himself a prisoner, and 
listened with eagerness for any sound which 
gave hope or promise of deliverance ; but 
it was not till after three mortal hours of 
his guest's comical captivity that the con- 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \\J 

siderate host, who would not disturb his 
guest too early, entered the apartment, and 
thus became aware of the presence of the 
admiring crowd, who, it need scarcely be 
said, were quickly dispersed, to Father 
Mathew's ineffable relief." 

Father Mathew saw many and many a 
pitiable exhibition of the fearful effects of 
intemperance, and he knew that to save 
young souls from the ruin which it involves, 
was to them the greatest favor, to God the 
greatest glory. He left no effort unused to 
win the young, to encourage them to join 
his societies, to assist them to persevere 
when the first step had been taken. 

He loved his native land, and he loved 
his people, and he knew well that that land 
would be a by-word and a reproach while 
it lay enslaved in the chains of a degrading 
vice ; that its people never could be free un- 
til the}^ had learned to respect themselves, 
and to make others respect them. 

Crime had already decreased; for the 



H8 LIFE OF FATHER MATHEW. 

Irishman rarely commits a crime, except 
under the influence of the demon Drink. 
Even the judges, as they went circuit, pro- 
claimed the great effects of this man's work, 
as represented in the decrease of criminal 
cases ; while those witnesses who came into 
court with a Temperance medal were seen 
to be heard with special attention. 

In the year 1839, n0 ^ ess than 12,049 P er ~ 
sons had been committed for various offen- 
ces. In 1845, there were only 7,101 crimi- 
nals. In 1839, sixty-six persons were sen- 
tenced to death ; while in 1845 there were 
only thirteen. And this decrease was steady, 
year by year showing the number happily 
less, as, year by year, the people of Ireland 
learned that the demon Drink was their 
cruelest enemy, and obtained, by Divine 
grace, strength to resist it effectually. 

The returns of the number of gallons of 
whisky on which duty was paid are also an- 
other item in the calculation of the good 
effected. In 1839 there was duty paid to 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. ng 

the amount of £1,434,573 ; in 1844 the duty 
paid was reduced to £852,418 ; at the same 
time, and as a happy consequence, the con- 
sumption of tea and sugar greatly in- 
creased. 

It is, certainly, amazing, when we consider* 
the amount of money expended on what 
was not even a luxury or a necessity, but a 
vile poison ; for, while persons belonging to 
the upper classes, may obtain unadulterated 
wines or spirits, it has been proved over 
and over again that the most poisonous and 
deleterious compounds are sold to the poor, 
and are taken by them, and are paid for by 
them. If one-half this amount were spent 
on good food and good clothes, there would 
be less necessity for emigration, and more 
encouragement for the best kind of industry 
in Ireland. 

A man who spends all his earnings, or 
even any considerable part of them, in the 
public-house, is an enemy to. his country, as 
well as to himself. He is also an enemy to 



1 20 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

the publican, for he is encouraging him to in- 
vest money in a trade — rather, I should say, 
in an occupation, that generally leads to 
ruin ; and even if, for a time, he seems to 
prosper, it will be only for a time, for no real 
'or perfect prosperity ever comes, even in 
this world, to those who live on the sin of 
others ; and what should we say of the 
future — what shall we say of the judgment 
which God shall pass on them? 

My friends, let no boy of yours either 
patronize or keep a liquor store. If you are 
so unhappy as to be in the position of keep- 
ing a liquor store, get rid of it as soon as 
you can, and get into some business where 
you can make honest money without being 
either directly or indirectly the occasion of 
sin to your fellow-creatures. 

Be assured that God will reward you, even 
in this world, for any sacrifice you have made 
for his love. And even should you suffer 
some temporal loss, it will be more than com- 
pensated to you when you are in eternity. 



LIFE OF FATHER MATHEW. \ 2 \ 

Father Mathew had to contend with the 
complaints of those who declared that hef 
had ruined their trade, as we have seen ; and 
even some members of his own family suf- 
fered ; still he did not hesitate in his course 
for a moment. Why should he ? What 
profit would it be to his family if they gained 
thousands by the sins of others, and then 
lost their own souls, or had the heavy guilt 
of being accessory to the sin of others. 

He spoke thus on this important subject 
in December, 1842 : 

" I do not know but that there are dis- 
tillers or brewers listening to me. One 
member of my family in Cashel, a distiller, 
now manufactures, I am glad to say, as much 
in a week as would supply his customers 
for a year. This is a great falling off from 
other days. I am rejoiced at this, for when 
the glory of God is in question, we should 
not mind the ties of flesh and blood." 

Miss Edgeworth, the well-known novelist, 
bears ardent testimony to the necessity 
11 



1 22 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

of Father Mathew's mission. She lived at 
the village of Edgeworthstown, in the County 
Longford, and well describes the difference 
between the state of that place when nearly 
every man was a drunkard, and its state 
when nearly every man was sober. She 
describes the joy and peace of the wife who 
found once more her husband's love and 
support, the children well clothed and 
happy, and the father himself, rejoicing in 
the mighty change, and wondering how he 
had ever been such a fool as to have lived 
as he once did, more like a brute than a 
Christian. 

Cardinal Wiseman, also, that great and 
good man, from whom we ourselves, at his 
own desire, received the holy sacrament of 
Confirmation, preached a panegyric on the 
" holy son of St. Francis," as he fittingly 
described Father Mathew. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Father Mathew a true hero — His fame will be eternal — His 
trials with those who broke the pledge — Thackeray's opin- 
ion of him — Father Mathew avoids politics — The reason 
of this — He assists the Repeal movement unconsiously by 
making the people sober — O'Connell announces his inten- 
tion to walk in the Cork procession — Magnificent demon- 
stration at which O'Connell assists — The Mayor kneels at 
the end in the public street to receive Father Mathew's 
blessing. 




j|HE great movement began now 
to attract attention in America. 
Dr.Channing,ofthat country, said: 
" History records no revolution like this ; 
it is the great work of the present day. 
Father Mathew, the leader of this moral 
revolution, ranks far above heroes and 
statesmen of the times. This was, in- 
deed, true, and a remarkable admission 
from a Protestant minister ; for truly the 
fame of the world's great men is but for the 
present, save in these few instances, when 



1 24 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

the first object of the hero is the glory of 
God, arid when he works for the glory of 
God as well as for earthly honor or earthly 
renown. 

Father Mathew rarely or never lost his 
temper ; and that is saying a good deal for 
him when we consider the life he led. Only 
those who are obliged to live active lives 
of incessant occupation, of ceaseless care, of 
continual labor ; lives which allow nothing 
to nature beyond what is absolutely neces- 
sary, which give but rare moments for rest 
and none for actual pleasures ; only such 
persons can understand the difficulty of 
possessing a perfect equanimity of temper. 

Father Mathew's heart was in his cause, 
and we may be assured that, if it had not 
been, his cause would never have prospered 
as it did. It may be very amusing for those 
who are in earnest in nothing but in sin, to 
sneer at those who are in earnest for God : but 
their mirth will not profit them much. When 
the devil can do nothing else, when he has in 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 2 $ 

vain fought with an earnest and holy soul, 
when he has in vain tried to hinder a holy 
work by other means, he tries the weapons 
of ridicule or contempt, to disgust the object 
of that contempt by the very device which 
he has himself suggested. 

If nothing else will do, he will attack the 
poor soul when weary— body and mind, and 
will try to destroy the holiest effects by some 
act of impatience or disgust. 

Father Mathew's one great trial was when 
any of his disciples broke the pledge. There 
were few, indeed, who proved unfaithful ; so 
very few, indeed, that it seems almost mir- 
aculous, almost supernatural ; for in truth it 
was above and beyond the power of nature, 
that so many should have been faithful, and 
so very, very few should have yielded to the 
strong temptation. 

But what tried him most of all was a de- 
liberate renunciation of the pledge. There 
might be some failures through the country, 
of which, of course, he would never hear ; 



1 26 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

but there is ample public testimony to show 
how few these failures were. Now and 
then, however, some disciple would come 
to him with deliberate purpose, and declare 
his inability to refrain from the temptation 
any longer. 

One individual unfortunately tried his tem- 
per. He came to Father Mathew, and as- 
sured him that he could no longer take the 
lemonade, which he had substituted for 
punch, after dinner. Father Mathew ad- 
vised water, but that was not to be thought 
of. He advised tea or coffee, the latter be- 
ing, indeed, a most pleasant and palatable 
after-dinner beverage ; but no, the gentle- 
man had come to resign the pledge, and he 
was not to be coaxed or caressed into keep- 
ing it. 

He declared that he only took one tum- 
bler of punch after dinner, but one he must 
have. 

Father Mathew, who knew very well the 
danger of " only one glass/' turned to him 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 2 J 

with a holy indignation and exclaimed, 
" Then, sir, you may go and drink a bucket- 
full of it every day of your life.'' 

Some amusing scenes are said to have 
occurred when countrymen came, now and 
then, to return the pledge. Poor fellows ! 
they had not conscience enough, or strength 
of mind enough, to keep themselves from 
temptation; and they had just faith enough 
not to like to break their vow. They 
fancied they could free themselves by giving 
back the medal, but this was easier said 
than done. Father Mathew began to under- 
stand the state of the case, after one or two 
attempts, and quietly treated the vacillating 
individual as if he had come for no other 
purpose than to take the vow he really 
intended to break. 

The poor countryman would be " taken 
a-back," and would begin to explain "that 
it was all for the good of his health " that 
he wanted to be freed from his vow. But 
Father Mathew had a stock of arguments 



128 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

ready, and when they failed he would have 
recourse to something very like physical 
force ; a hearty shake, a good scolding, 
positive refusal to take back the medal, was 
generally found effectual. Now and then, 
however, some individual, who was deter- 
mined to go to the devil without let or hinder- 
ance, would fling in his medal and slam to 
the door, and then take to his heels down 
the street. 

Poor fellow ! How the demon must have 
laughed and shouted to see him run ! It was 
as if he held the key of Paradise in his hand, 
and flung it away lest he should succeed in 
entering therein. Only God and the holy 
angels could know the danger of that man. 
The barriers once broken down, the great 
safeguard once removed, his ruin was sure; 
for rarely indeed would he again reform. 

Once the summary method of getting rid 
of the pledge was discovered, a perfect 
remedy was applied, as far as Cork was con- 
cerned ; for Father Mathew was rarely 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 2 g 

without two or three faithful disciples, and 
they were ready and willing to pounce 
forth on the flying individual, who hoped to 
escape by his fleetness of foot. An exciting 
chase was the usual result of every surrep- 
titious attempt to return the medal, and the 
depositor was generally captured, and, after 
a suitable lecture and effectual persuasion, 
was induced to take up his medal once more. 
In the year 1842, the good Father 
received a very gratifying letter from the 
Catholic Bishop of Madras, who told him 
that a whole company of soldiers had come 
to him "to be enrolled in Father Mathew's 
society. " Letters such as this, and the holy 
friar received many such, were no little 
consolation to him in his life of weary labor. 
As his biographer truly says, it was not 
because they gratified his vanity, for that 
he had long since tried to subdue and morti- 
fy ; had he not done so, he could scarcely 
have prospered as he did in his work ; but it 
was because they consoled his heart. 



1 30 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

The very affectionateness of his disposition 
led him to desire sympathy ardently, and to 
shrink painfully from the least unkindness. 
But hi§ goodness of heart shielded him 
from all but the malicious few, who find, in 
the prosperity of any individual, a sufficient 
reason for despising his work or himself. 
Even the cynical Thackeray had a good 
word for the Irish soggarth, and writes of 
him in terms of warm commendation. 

" There is nothing remarkable/' he says, 
"in Mr. Mathew's manner, except that it 
is exceedingly simple, hearty and manly. 
With the state of the country, of landlord, 
tenant and peasantry, he seems to be most 
curiously and entirely acquainted ; his 
knowledge of the people is prodigious, and 
their confidence in him is great; and what 
a touching attachment that is, which these 
poor fellows show to any one who has their 
cause at heart, even to any one who says he 
has ! One of his disciples, in a livery coat, 
came into the room with a tray; Mr. 






LIFE OF FATHER MATHEW. 131 

Mathew recognized him and shook him by 
the hand directly ; so he did \yith the 
strangers that were presented to him, and 
not with a courtly, popularity-hunting air, 
but, as it seemed, from sheer hearty kindness 
and a desire to do every one good." 

His " desire to do every one good/' which 
struck the Englishman so much, was just 
the very key-note of the harmony of Father 
Mathew's life, and the source of his success. 
Still, while the half-heathen Thackeray very 
naturally took the lowest view of his mo- 
tives, and attributed all to mere benevo- 
lence, we know that his " desire to do every 
one good " had a far higher motive. 

Mere human benevolence may lead a man 
to do much for his fellow-creatures, if he can 
do it without any serious personal inconven- 
ience ; it needs the constraining power of the 
love of God to induce and to enable a man 
to sacrifice his time, his comfort in life, his 
whole being, as Father Mathew sacrificed 
his, for the sake of his fellow men. 



1 32 . LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

Mr. Thackeray also explained that " Mr." 
Mathew, as he was pleased to call him, 
seemed to have no political opinions. O'Con- 
nell's agitation was in full action, and its suc- 
cess was admittedly and undoubtedly mainly 
attributable to the Temperance movement. 
But Father Mathew, with the most consum- 
mate prudence, kept himself even from any 
appearance of joining in the proceedings. He 
knew well that his agitation must be purely 
spiritual, if it was to succeed ; and he wished 
to unite all classes and all creeds, as well as 
all shades of political opinion, in the one 
great effort to regenerate the country. 

But O'Connell well knew the value of 
Father Mathew's passive cooperation, and 
did all that he possibly could to encourage 
his followers to join the Temperance move- 
ment. If a proof were needed that Irishmen 
only require to be sober, to gain all that 
they desire, that proof was given. 

On Easter morning, March 28th, 1842, 
O'Connell joined the Temperance procession 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



133 



himself in Cork, no doubt with the view of 
impressing the value of the society more 
strongly on his followers. He announced 
his intention on the previous Monday, at 
the weekly meeting in Conciliation Hall. 
This arrangement was not altogether satis- 
factory to Father Mathew, as it looked too 
much like a personal sanction of a certain line 
of political action. But he had no choice, and 
the event proved that there need have been 
no apprehension. 

A procession of some ten thousand people 
marched that day in Cork, and it was one 
of the most impressing Temperance demon- 
strations ever witnessed. The following 
account is from the Cork " Examiner " of 
that day : 

" From an early hour in the morning, 
which was rather threatening, and inclined 
to rain, the city was thronged with number- 
less crowds of people, either anxious to 
behold the anticipated spectacle, or about 
to fall in with the several societies that were 
12 



1 34 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

to walk on the occasion. Every road, street, 
lane and avenue, leading into Cork, echoed 
to the sound of music, as hundreds and 
thousands poured in from neighboring towns 
and districts of the country, or even from 
places so far distant as thirty or forty miles. 
Long before the time appointed for starting, 
the vast area of the Corn-market was dense- 
ly crowded with various societies, each 
headed by its band of twenty or thirty 
musicians, the members dressed with scarfs, 
blue, pink or green, of Irish manufacture, 
and holding a long white wand decorated 
with colored ribbon or laurel. Before the 
several societies was borne a flag or banner, 
generally with the name of the particular 
town to which they belonged ; some having 
painted on them an appropriate device, or 
allegorical representation, and in many cases 
a full length figure of the Apostle himself. 

" At the hour of eleven, the procession be- 
gan to move slowly from the Corn-market, 
over Anglesea Bridge, along the Parade, and 






LIFE OF FA THER MATHEW. 135 

up Great George street, the Western road, 
and so through the entire route settled on 
some weeks previously. When they had 
proceeded as far as the County Club-House, 
they were met by the Lord Mayor of Dub- 
lin, who came to join Father Mathew; their 
greeting was warm and affectionate. 

" The scene which followed, it might be 
possible to imagine, but is certainly impos- 
sible to describe. Who could tell of the wild 
joyous shout 1 * that rent the very air, as the 
two great men of Ireland, the political and 
the moral emancipators of her people, met 
together; the eagerness; the exclamations 
of delight ; the rushing forward to snatch a 
look at both ? The rapture and enthusiasm 
of that moment, are beyond our poor pow- 
ers of description. In a short time after, 
Thomas Lyons, our own mayor, accompan- 
ied by several respectable gentlemen and 
merchants, joined the procession. Another 
shout welcomed his arrival. Father Mathew 
then walked, with the Lord Mayor on one 



1 36 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

side, and the Mayor of Cork on the other. 
Every window was crowded with brilliant 
groups of fashionably dressed ladies, who 
waved their handkerchiefs as the splendid 
array filed before them. Every roof, hall- 
door, balcony, balustrade, wall, and projec- 
tion, was literally covered with a mass of 
eager and delighted beings, who cheered 
with all their might as the Liberator or 
Apostle came in view. As the procession 
was passing the house of Dr. Bullen, on the 
South Mall, in a window of which sat the 
Right Reverend Dr. Murphy, the leaders 
halted, whereupon every man raised his 
hat, in respect for our venerable and belov- 
ed bishop, while loud and continued cheers 
echoed from ten thousand voices. His lord- 
ship, who seemed visibly affected at this 
testimony of affectionate respect, blessed the 
thousands before him, and bowed with an 
appearance of great feeling. No language 
can at all do justice to the tremendous 
crowd of people who did not form part of 






. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



137 



the regular array, but who lined the streets 
on both sides, and who required all the ex- 
ertions of the vigorous stewards to keep 
them from breaking the line of march. In 
whatever street there was a Temperance 
reading-room, there was an arch of green 
boughs, spanning its breadth from house 
to house. Banners, emblems, garlands of 
flowers, paintings of various kinds, busts of 
Father Mathew, and allegorical devices 
decorated the walls and windows of the 
several rooms before which the procession 
passed. 

" The Lord Mayor separated from the pro- 
cession at the end of Lancaster Quay, when 
he knelt down and received the blessing of 
Father Mathew, amidst the rapturous cheer- 
ings of the countless spectators. His lord- 
ship then departed, in company with the 
Mayor of Cork. 

" After marching through the various 
streets marked out by the managing com- 
mittee, the vast body of the people arrived at 



I3 8 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

the terminus, the Corn market, about three 
o'clock, when, after having cheered several 
times, they quietly separated with the most 
admirable order." 



CHAPTER X. 

Father Mathew visits Glasgow — He receives an address there 
from Protestants — His miraculous powers— Wonderful ef- 
fect on Mr. O'C How he made him actually dislike 

spirits — His reception on his return to Ireland — Amus- 
ing story about his brother John. 




ATHER MATHEW had often 
been asked to extend the sphere 
of his labors, and especially to 
visit Scotland, where so many of his coun- 
trymen were located ; but he loved Ireland 
too much to labor elsewhere, at least until 
the Temperance movement had been firmly 
established in that country. At last he 
complied with one of the many invitations ; 
and in August, 1842, he landed in Green- 
ock, and the same evening arrived in Glas- 
gow. 

On the following day, August 14th, and 

139 



140 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



the eve of the Assumption of our Blessed 
Lady, he preached to an immense congre- 
gation, and, shortly after, he begun to ad- 
minister the pledge. 

On the 1 6th of August his arrival was 
celebrated by a monster procession, in which 
he rejoiced, not because of any honor done to 
himself personally,but because it was a means, 
and a most effectual one, of making his work 
more widely known, and of extending that 
enthusiasm which is so necessary, or rather 
so useful, for the success of any great un- 
dertaking. 

Even at the very moment when it might 
have been supposed that he would enjoy 
such rest as could be had in a procession, 
and all the honor which thousands were 
vieing with each other in rendering to him, 
his Master's work was his one great object. 
It was found that he had slipped quietly 
away from the carriage and the proces- 
sion, from the rest, and from the honors, 
and had retired to the Cattle-market, where 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



141 



were assembled some poor fellows who were 
anxious to take the pledge, and could not 
wait until the conclusion of the procession. 

Truly, on all occasions, it was God and souls 
first, and Father Mathew's rest last. And 
he has his reward now. He is honored for- 
ever and forever, where no trail of envy 
can dare to throw a shade upon his fame, 
where no unkindness can grieve his gentle 
heart, where he rests forever and forever, 
where he shall rest for countless ages in the 
eternal peace of God. 

There was a Temperance banquet at the 
close of the day, where Father Mathew 
came to do more work for God. An ad- 
dress was read to him, amid the acclama- 
tions of hundreds of Protestants, and the 
address was presented by a Protestant. His 
reply, like himself, was full of Divine chari- 
ty. He spoke still of love — for his heart was 
full of it, of charity to God, and of charity 
to the neighbor ; and, in truth, his life was 
an exemplification of his holy words. 



142 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



A Protestant paper thus describes his 
work : 

u On Monday, Father" Mathew adminis- 
tered the pledge to from 1,000 to 1,500; 
and on Tuesday, after the great procession 
was over, not fewer than 10,000 to 12,000 
people were enlisted in the teetotal cause. 
Wednesday, however, the number of appli- 
cants was so immense, that all attempts at 
calculation must be set aside. In the morn- 
ing Father Mathew celebrated mass in the 
Catholic Chapel, Clyde Street, and after- 
wards proceeded to the Cattle-market, where 
a vast concourse of people was assembled. 
Indeed, the great square of the market was, 
at one period of the day, so crow T ded, that it 
was scarcely possible for the most vigorous 
to push their way through, and many who 
ardently longed for an opportunity of kneel- 
ing before the great Apostle of Temper- 
ance, and taking the pledge from his lips, 
could not get even a sight of his face. Late 
in the afternoon, he saw females who had 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



v 143 



anxiously waited the whole day, in the hope 
of being able to get near his person, but 
were disappointed, and we understand that 
great numbers were similarly circumstanced 
at the close of the proceedings. From ten 
o'clock, a.m.-, till six o'clock, Father Mathew 
was laboriously employed in administering 
the pledge, and as the day was excessively 
hot, his exertions must have been attended 
with great fatigue. Group after group was 
pledged during the whole of the day, to 
the number of many thousands ; but from 
the pressure it was impossible to keep any 
account — it is impossible, as we have al- 
ready remarked, even to guess at the gross 
number. Such of the people as w T ere pre- 
viously in the possession of tickets or med- 
als, put them into his hands, and he re- 
turned them, throwing the ribbons by which 
they were suspended over the necks of the 
owners. In the Catholic Chapel, yesterday 
morning, he distinctly informed the audi- 
ence, that he arrogated to himself no 



144 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



power of performing miracles or cur- 
ing diseases, and that any one who ap- 
proached him under such a delusion must 
be signally disappointed, the power of 
performing miracles belonging alone to the 
Supreme Being. He, however, stated that 
he was willing and ready to bestow his 
blessing on all who chose to seek it. Not- 
withstanding these disclaimers, however, 
crowds of diseased persons were taken to the 
Cattle-market.. At the close of the proceed- 
ings, yesterday, Father Mathew appeared 
to be quite exhausted by his labors. " 

In this age of scepticism, we must say a 
word of Father Mathew's reiterated dis- 
claimer of the power of working miracles. 
As we have already said, the Church has 
not yet spoken on the subject, therefore we 
may not speak of the miracles wrought by 
him, as we would do of the miracles wrought 
by a canonized Saint. But this does not 
make his miracles any the less true. There 
is ample reason to believe that he did 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 145 

work cures beyond the power of medical 
skill. 

I myself know the gentleman to whom 
the circumstances happened which I shall 
now record ; he is still living, though at a 
very advanced age. 

My friend, who then lived in Killarney, 
had a very large business as a timber mer- 
chant. He was a. young man of promise, 
and of great and earnest nationality ; he had 
married very young, and was still young, 
though he was the father of twelve children, 
the eldest of whom was only fourteen years 

of age. Mr. O'C 's wife had just died, 

and his warm, affectionate heart was deeply 
tried. 

Business, however, should go on, and he 
had arranged with some friends to go to 
Cork. It was a long journey from Killarney 
in those days, but it was safely made. The 
gentlemen went about their different occu- 
pations the next day after their arrival, and 

in the evening met together. Mr. O'C 

13 



1 46 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

was not in the habit of drinking, but this 
evening he was led on until he found that 
he had taken too much. 

He rose early the next morning, accord- 
ing to his usual custom, and having heard a 
great deal of Father Mathew, who was just 
then beginning to be much talked about 
(1838), he determined he would "get a look 
at him " before he went home. 

Curiosity was his only motive. He in- 
quired where he could be seen, and was 
told by the sleepy waiter of the hotel, that 
Father Mathew always said mass at seven 

o'clock. Mr. O'C set off for Father 

Mathew's church just to get the one look. 
He arrived there a little before seven, and 
seeing that the confessional was occupied, 
he concluded that the " Apostle was there," 
and thought he would have time enough 
just to get one peep at him through the 
door and be off. 

He came as near as he thought he could 
safely, and tried to take the peep ; but to 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



H7 



his great astonishment, he found himself 
fairly fixed on the place where he stood, and 
not one step could he move one way or the 
other. 

He was neither fanciful nor superstitious ; 
such a thing had never happened to him 
before, nor to any cne else that he had ever 
heard of. He knew but little of the lives 
of the saints, and was not aware that some- 
what similar occurences might be read of in 
their histories. 

He got very uncomfortable, as well he 
might. He could see the people were 
looking at him ; and at last Father Mathew 
came out of his box, and asked would he 
go to confession. By no means, it was the 
very last thing he had thought of, and, in 
fact, he had not been to the sacrament for a 
very long time. 

Father Mathew, after using some little 
persuasion, returned to his box, and Mr. 
O'C— — , congratulating himself on not only 
having seen, but also having spoken to the 



I4 8 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

famous priest, prepared to leave the church. 
Again and again he found himself fastened 
to the spot by an invisible, but an irresisti- 
ble power. Then he began to think, per- 
haps he had better go into the confessional, 
and when he made a move in that direction 
he found it quite easy. 

He told Father Mathew what had hap- 
pened, and was then easily induced not only 
s to confess, but even to make a general con- 
fession of his whole life ; and he positively 
declares that during that confession, Father 
Mathew told him of many sins which he had 
forgotten, and which he could only have 
known supernaturally. 

Father Mathew then desired him to go 
to the altar and he would give him holy 

communion. But Mr. O'C refused. 

He thought it right to have made a confes- 
sion, but he said he could not receive his 
God without further preparation. But the 
good Shepherd was watching over him, and 
would not have him sent away ; and Father 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



149 



Mathew came out of his box, and quietly 
led him by the hand up to the altar. 

After mass he took him round to his 
house to breakfast, treating him as if he had 

been an old friend. Poor Mr. O'C 

would gladly have escaped the honor, for 
he was every moment afraid lest Father 
Mathew would ask him to take the pledge ; 
that he was fully determined he would not 
do. He had merely been " overtaken " once 
in his life ; that was saying a good deal for a 
business man of the day; for a man was 
obliged, according to the miserable custom 
of the times, to give his men a glass of 
whiskey every morning before they went 
to work. No, he certainly would not take 
the pledge. He was thankful that he had 
made his confession and received the most 
holy sacrament, he resolved to be a better 
Christian from that day forward ; but take 
the pledge — never. 

At breakfast Father Mathew talked about 
everything except the Temperance move- 
13* 



1 50 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

ment. Mr. O'C felt a little more com- 
fortable, but by no means safe. Father 
Mathew had a very unpleasant habit of get- 
ting his own way quietly ; and when he was 
bent on making a convert, he seldom failed 
in his purpose. 

At last the fatal moment came. Mr. 

O'C rose up to go and Father Mathew 

began in his usual winning accents : 

" My dear, don't you think you had better 
take the pledge? " 

" Never, sir!" 

And Mr. O'C made a rush for the 

door; but being naturally a very polite 
man, he did not exactly like to run out of 
the room, though he knew it was the only 
safety. 

A long argument followed, but Mr. O'C 

was " stiff and steady." 

" Well ! well ! my dear, I won't ask you 
to take the pledge ; but kneel down, my 
dear ; kneel down ; that won't do you any 
harm." 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



ISI 



Mr. O'C knelt down, still protesting 

that he would not take the pledge. 

Somewhat to his surprise, Father Mathew 
did not ask him. But he touched his eyes, 
his mouth, his ears, his face gently and 
lovingly, and laid his hand, from time to 
time, on his head, all the while praying most 

fervently, though Mr. O'C could not 

hear what he said ; but he felt, as he said 
after, as if he had been in Paradise, and he 
understood that the holy friar was praying 
to God to keep his five senses from evil. 

After a few minutes, Father Mathew 
spoke : " Now, my dear, I will not ask you 
to take the pledge, but I will ask you to 
promise me not to take any kind of intoxi- 
cating drink if you can possibly help it ; if 
you wish for it, or see it before you, just 
avoid taking it, if possible. " 

This was no pledge, certainly ; and Mr. 

O'G made the desired promise with 

facility, only too well pleased to escape on 
such easy terms ; so he went off to his busi- 



I 5 2 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

ness, having first received a warm invitation 
from Father Mathew to come to him when- 
ever he was in Cork. 

The day was occupied in arranging his 
affairs, and the party met at the hotel for 
dinner, as they had done on the previous 
evening. The "materials" for punch were 
placed on the table, as usual ; but, no sooner 

were they placed near Mr. O'C than he 

felt as much horror of whiskey as a mad 
dog would of water ; or, just to use his own 
expression, " he could as soon have drunk 
so much ditch water." He could not take 
the whiskey, and put it away from him with 
actual disgust. 

Of course, his friends laughed at him, 
joked him, teased him, and asked him had 
he taken the pledge. He told them every- 
thing, and they only laughed the more ; 

but Mr. O'C still found himself in the 

same difficulty. He had so great an aver- 
sion to the whiskey, to spirits of any kind, 
that he could not touch it. 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



153 



This continued for two years. At the 
end of that time Father Mathew visited 

Killarney, and Mr. O'C placed himself 

in the crowd to take the pledge ; not that it 
was necessary for him now, but he hoped, 
by giving the example, that many of his 
workmen would be induced to do the same. 
Father Mathew recognized him at once. 
He took his own medal off his neck and put 

it on Mr. O'C , saying, " I knew you 

would take the pledge." Good Mr. O'C 

is still living, and a fine, hale old man. I 
have this story from himself. He certainly 
was the subject of a very special Providence, 
for there can be little doubt that if he had 
not visited Father Mathew at that time, he 
would have been tempted to drink again 
with his friends the following night, and 
probably would have thus been led on until 
he became a confirmed drunkard ; then what 
w r ould have become of his young helpless 
family ? 

We must then remember that when 



1 54 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

Father Mathew disclaimed the power of 
working miracles himself, he only said what 
any saint would have said, and what any 
well educated Catholic would have^said, 
that none but the " Supreme Being/' as 
Protestant writers say, " can work a mira- 
cle ; " but Father Mathew knew, as well as 
we do, that God delegates that power when 
and where He pleases, to His creatures ; 
and though his humility may have made 
him doubt that this power was delegated to 
him, yet the fact still remained the same. 

The good people of Cork seem to have 
been aroused by the Glasgow demonstra- 
tions, and to have thought that they too, 
should pay some additional honor to their 
own priest. 

He had fixed Tuesday, the 23d of August, 
for his return, and the people determined 
on that day to show that they, at least, 
were not of the large class of mankind who 
give no honor to the prophets of their own 
country. 






LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 155 

There were no railways in Cork in those 
days, and the stage coach conveyed the 
holy soggarth aroon to his home. At the 
last stage for changing horses, before enter- 
ing Cork, the multitudes were assembled to 
meet him, and the Mayor waited in his 
carriage to convey the illustrious priest to 
his home. 

In the words of an eye-witness, it seemed 
as though he had been away years instead 
of days. The road was thronged with car- 
riages, cars, and every mode of conveyance, 
for those who could ride, and the crowds 
who walked were past counting. 

Every one was looking out eagerly for 
the first sight of the coach, or listening, if 
listening were possible, for the first sound. 
At last, " He comes!" was the cry of the 
people. Here was the man of their hearts, 
the Soggarth of Ireland ; for, dear as all 
our soggarths are, they would be the first to 
give him the special title both of praise and 
affection. 



1 56 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

The various societies were all then in 
full force, with bands and banners floating 
on the summer breeze. At length the cry- 
was heard, " He is coming, he is coming ! " 
It was no false alarm now ; a moment more 
and he had come. The coach drove up 
rapidly, and while shout after shout of wel- 
come was heard, the Apostle of Temperance 
descended from the public conveyance and 
took the place prepared for him in the 
Mayor's carriage. 

The societies then formed in order and 
filed past him with flying flags and the 
bands playing, while still cheer after cheer 
rent the air. An address was then read of 
considerable length, which only said, what 
every one knew, that Father Mathew had 
done more good in his day and century 
than any other living man had done or 
might ever hope to do. The people of 
Cork also expressed their gratification at 
the reception he had been given in Glas- 
gow ; and there was a curious allusion to the 






LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



157 



railways there, " those mightiest achieve- 
ments of science and art," from which one 
gathers a regretful feeling that they were 
not, as yet, familiar to Cork. 

In his reply, Father Mathew again spoke 
of that divine charity which was the one 
motive of all his actions, the foundation 
and ruling principle of his holy life. The 
people enjoyed themselves, as only the tem- 
perate can, for the rest of the day, and in 
the morning Father Mathew's house was 
surrounded by crowds, who seemed as if it 
were a sufficient enjoyment to be even near 
the place where he was. 

But Father Mathew was not without some 
troubles, even in his own family. Of course, 
he wished that they should be, above all, and 
more than all, models of temperance ; but 
there are few of us who can obtain the ac- 
complishment of all our desires in this 
world. None of them, thank God, seem to 
have been in any way addicted to intemper- 
ance, but that was not enough for their fer- 
14 



I 58 LIFE OF FA THER MA THEW. 

vent relative ; he wished that they, at least, 
should be total abstainers. 

And so he believed they were, until he 
was suddenly aroused from his pleasant 
dream. It was his custom to pa)^ a yearly 
visit to his family of two or three days, and 
this was the only holiday he ever allowed 
himself. His attachment to children was 
very great, so, as plight be expected, his af- 
fection was shown in a very practical man- 
ner to his little nephews and nieces, who 
fondly returned the feeling. 

He always came laden with good things 
for them, and his visit was a general holi- 
day. Water was, of course, the only bever- 
age on the table on such occasions ; but his 
brother John had never formally joined the 
Temperance Society, and was fond of a 
glass, though not intemperate. • 

Father Mathew, however, was not aware 
of this weakness, and he congratulated his 
brother openly on his appearance, which he 
naturallv attributed to total abstinence. 



LIFE OF FA TITER MA THE W. 



159 



John said nothing, but it is probable that he 
thought a good deal, that he was even then 
meditating where, and when, and how, he 
could secure the indulgence. 

He had to wait until night, and until his 
brother Theobald had retired ; and then, 
believing himself to be safe, he proceeded to 
make himself thoroughly comfortable, and to 
have a brew of his favorite beverage. He 
was in the very height of enjoyment, and 
certainly never more surprised in his life 
than when he heard a step on the stairs, a 
step he knew well. The step came nearer, 
and John knew that his fate was sealed. 
He hid the sugar, he hid the water, and he 
had just seized the tumbler, which was too 
hot for him to hold for more than an in- 
stant, when the door opened and the Apos- 
tle of Temperance appeared. 

Poor John expected a fearful scolding, or 
to be compelled to take the pledge on the 
spot ; but to his great surprise, his brother 
only laughed heartily, took the book for 



I (So LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

which he had returned, and left the room 
quietly. How far poor John enjoyed his 
carouse, after this incident, is not left on 
record ; one thing at least is certain, that he 
was never complimented again on his per- 
sonal appearance, nor was he ever held up 
to an admiring audience as a model of suc- 
cessful Temperance. 










CHAPTER XL 



Father Mathew converts a poor Protestant to Temperance by 
caressing his little child — Miserable effects of drunken- 
ness even in this world — Red Denis — The devil's bargain 
— Denis wants a "darby" — Father Mathew conquers — 
Denis becomes a firm teetotaller. 




NE very beautiful instance is re- 
corded of Father Mathew's power 
of winning souls for God, which 
must be mentioned here. A poor Protes- 
tant workman had plunged himself in the 
very lowest state of misery by the disgust- 
ing vice of intemperance. There seemed 
no human hope of his reformation. His 
unhappy wife was half naked, and more 
than half starved ; she, like too many an 
honest woman had the misfortune to be tied 
to a drunken brute. His poor little inno- 
cent children had been trained up to vice 
and hardened in misery. 



H 



(161) 



1 62 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 

Father Mathew came to see him twice, 
but without effect. He came again a third 
time, and was only insulted by the wretched 
creature. But no insult could prejudice 
the holy man against any unhappy sinner. 
He turned to leave the room, for he saw 
that argument or persuasion were useless ; 
and as he passed one of the little children, 
he took it up tenderly in his arms, as his 
Divine Master had done, and after kissing 
it affectionately, he put it on the floor 
again, and slipped some money into its tiny 
hand. 

The man saw the action, and by God's 
good grace it was the means of his conver- 
sion. A miracle of grace was wrought upon 
his soul ; he flung himself upon his knees, 
and cried out amid convulsive sobs: " Oh, 
my God, pardon me ! Here is this good 
man, who has acted more like a father to 
my children than I have myself; he would 
feed them, and I have starved them. God 
forgive me ! God in His mercy forgive me." 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 63 

He then took the pledge, and kept it faith- 
fully ; thus one more family was saved from 
days and years of misery ; one more wife 
and mother was made happy ; and the poor 
father himself soon learned that what he 
had once believed so necessary for his hap- 
piness was, in fact, the once curse of his 
life. 

One of Father Mathew's most famous 
converts was called " Red Denis." He ob- 
tained his distinctive appellation from the 
color of his hair. Red Denis was a faithful 
servant, but he had just the " one fault;" 
the fault which is the utter ruin, the tem- 
poral ruin, or the eternal destruction of so 
many noble souls. His master had long 
borne with his failing, but there is a limit 
to all human patience, and the unfortunate 
drunkard had certainly obtained a much 
longer grace than he deserved. 

At last he was offered the choice of leav- 
ing his situation or taking the pledge. But 
Denis loved his enemy too well to part with 



1 64 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

him ; and the devil, who knew that his 
prey was in danger, had a ready tempta- 
tion to try and keep him safe for hell fire. 

It was clear that Denis would make 
some effort to save his soul. Alas ! that he 
should have been driven to it, not by the 
love of God, but by the .fear of temporal 
loss. Poor Denis ! he was terribly afraid 
of leaving his place with a good master in 
this world; but it is to be feared that he 
thought very little, indeed, of the loss of 
a place near his Lord forever and forever. 

He went to Father Mathew to make his 
bargain, or the devil's bargain ; for the cruel 
fiend, if he cannot bind a man by ropes of 
iron, will try to bind him, aye, and will 
bind him too, safe and sure by the little 
silken cord of an evil inclination. 

He persuaded Denis, and Denis was quite 
willing to be persuaded, that he could not 
do without a "drop;" he knew well that if 
he only persuaded him to take a "drop," 
now and again, he would easily persuade 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



165 



him, after a little, to take a quantity, to im- 
merse himself once more in the filthy mire 
of the most brutal vice of drunkenness. 

But Father Mathew knew the tricks of 
the devil too well, and knew from long 
years of sad experience that Total Absti- 
nence is the only safety for those who are 
tempted by the demon Drink. If a man is 
tempted to commit suicide, his friends keep 
every sharp instrument from him. If they 
lock up his razors, and leave him his pocket 
knife, they might as well leave him the 
razors too. 

So Red Denis went off to Father Mathew, 
to see what bargain he could make. 

" I thank God you are come to me," ex- 
claimed the good priest, " and of your own 
free-will too ; a voluntary sacrifice is most 
acceptable to the good God. Kneel down, 
my dear child," continued Father Mathew 
to the giant, who was scratching his red poll 
in great perplexity. 

" Well, sir, the truth of it is, you must 
make a bargain with me," said Denis. ' 



1 66 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

" Bargain, my dear ; what bargain ?" 

" I'm thinking, your reverence, of giv- 
ing up the spirits, but" — 

" God will bless you, my dear, for doing 
so. It never did any one good, and it has 
ruined thousands and thousands of immor- 
tal souls, too." 

" What you say, your reverence, is true 
enough ; and I'm going to give it up, but I 
must have a darby." 

" A darby, my dear!" 

" Yes, your reverence, one darby a day. 
I '11 take the pledge if your reverence will 
only give me one darby a day." 

But Father Mathew would not allow the 
" darby." Denis must either take the pledge 
altogether or not take it at all, and Denis 
declared at last that it was riot in the power 
of God Almighty to make him do without 
the whiskey altogether. 

Poor Denis ! many and many a man has 
thought the same. Many and many a man 
has gone from a life of temporal misery in 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W.*° 167 

this, world, and to a life of eternal misery in 
the next, because he would not believe that 
God would help him to overcome his be- 
setting sin. As if God had ever refused his 
grace to any one who had asked for it truly 
and sincerely. It is, indeed, a favorite trick 
of the devil's to try to persuade people that 
they cannot resist temptation, and woe to 
those who are deceived by his lies. He 
would not ask anything better, for it secures 
his victims. 

Father Mathew desired Denis to come 
back in a week, and so he did, happily for 
himself. He still held out for the " darby," 
but Father Mathew held out for the grace 
of God, and happily for the poor man's soul, 
he conquered. 

" Kneel down this moment/' he said, ad- 
dressing his refractory disciple, "and repeat 
the words of the pledge after me ; and I tell 
you that God will give you strength to 
resist temptations for the future. I promise 
you that He will give you strength and 



1 68 LIFE 0F FA THER MA THE IV. 

grace to do so. I promise it to you iij his 
name/' 

The good priest's commands were all- 
powerful. Denis took the pledge, and not 
only did he keep it faithfully, but he even 
declared, again and again, that a " darby 
would choke him " if he ever attempted to 
take it. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Public meeting in Dublin to forward a testimonial to Father 
Mathew — A doctor's testimony to the value of Temperance — 
O'Connell's panegyric on Father Mathew — " Monster " tea- 
party in Cork — Importance of such gatherings — Father 
Mathew' s visit to England— Attempts to injure him made 
there — The hotel prepared for him — A noble convert to the 
Temperance cause. 




PUBLIC meeting was held in the 
year 1843, on the 26th of January, 
in the Theatre Royal, Dublin, to 
offer some testimonial or public expression 
of gratitude to Father Mathew for his 
services to Ireland. The requisition con- 
vening the meeting was signed by two 
dukes, four marquises, nineteen earls, ten 
viscounts and barons, four Catholic bishops, 
more than forty baronets, and an immense 
number of clergymen and gentlemen of all 
religious denominations. 

1 5 (169) 



170 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



The chair was taken by the Duke of 
Leinster, who, it will be remembered, had 
insisted on entertaining Father Mathew 
when he visited Maynooth. 

A letter was read from a celebrated medi- 
cal man, Dr. Carmichael ; and surely, if there 
were no other testimony than this, to the 
blessed effects of Temperance, it should be 
sufficient to warn those who are straying 
into, or continuing in a career which, sooner 
or later, must end in the most terrible misery ; 
which, even while it is indulged in, is so far 
from promoting the happiness of its vic- 
tims. 

The doctor writes thus : 

" Rutland Square, Jan. 22d, 1843. 

" My Dear Sir : I send you a brief me- 
morandum of the facts I accidentally men- 
tioned to you the other day, respecting the 
cases of admission into the Richmond Surgi- 
cal Hospital, before Father'Mathew's happy 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



171 



influence converted the poor of this city 
from drunkenness to sobriety. 

" The hospital contains 130 beds, chiefly 
appropriated to surgical cases ; and, before 
the pledge was so generally taken by the 
poor of the city, we were never without 
cases of wounds, and broken heads and 
arms of women, the cruel inflictions of their 
drunken husbands ; when, at the same time, 
it usually contained cases of infants and 
children half burned or scalded to death, 
through the negligence of their drunken 
mothers. The hospital, I may safely say, 
was never without cases of delirium tre- 
mens, many of which ended fatally. In- 
deed, I know of no instance of any indi- 
vidual affected with this malady, arising 
from the abuse of ardent spirits, that did 
not ultimately die of the disease. 

"Now, if we contrast these facts with the 
records of the hospital since Father Mathew 
has made us a sober people, we do not find 
a single instance of wounds, burns, or 



1 72 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

scalds, attributable to drunkenness, and sel- 
dom or ever is any case of delirium tremens 
admitted into the hospital. 

" The records of the hospital also prove 
that since the great mass of the population 
of this city have become sober, the rate of 
mortality amongst all descriptions of patients 
is considerably reduced ; a proof of the in- 
creased strength and power of the lower 
orders, in effectually resisting the influence 
of the diseases, etc. 

" My dear Sir, truly yours, 

" Richard Carmichael." 

" The Marquis of Headford, and the Mar- 
quis of Clanricarde, both addressed the 
meeting, and Mr. Smith O'Brien added his 
testimony. 

But there was one speaker who was 
listened to with more than ordinary inter- 
est, both by those who loved him because 
he loved old Ireland, and by those who, we 
must fear, hated him for the self-same reason. 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



173 



Those who would not have ventured to 
go and hear O'Connell when he spoke for 
political purposes, were glad of the opportu- 
nity of hearing him now, when they could 
do so without infringing their dignity, while 
a word from the " Liberator " was enough 
to gladden the hearts of thousands who had 
less dignity and more patriotism. 

Even while proclaiming the praises of the 
14 Apostle," he still defended Ireland. " It 
was true," he said — " it could not indeed be 
denied, that the Irish Nation had been giv- 
en to the curse of drink ; but he denied that 
they were worse than their neighbors ; for 
he assured the meeting that he had obtain- 
ed parliamentary statistics which showed 
that before the Temperance- movement, the 
Scotch drank more than twice as much as 
the Irish." He concluded by saying, " There 
is no ' painting the rainbow/ the ray that 
comes from the sun, or the angelic plumes 
that flutter round the Diety; and there is 
no angel more pure or worthy than the 
15* 



1 74 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

angel of public morality, dignified in the 
person of Father Mathew." 

During the following month, Father 
Mathew was entertained at a "monster" 
tea-party in the Corn Exchange at Cork. 
At this meeting, 1,700 persons were present. 
When the secretaries came to make up their 
accounts, they found themselves just one 
hundred pounds short, and this sum Father 
Mathew insisted on paying himself. 

There can be no doubt whatever, that such 
gatherings were of the greatest value to the 
noble and sacred cause to which he had 
dedicated his life. Money was of no im- 
portance to him, except in so far as it could 
assist that cause ; hence whether it was spent 
on bands, or tea-parties, or processions, or 
medals for those who could not afford to 
purchase them, it was all the same, the end 
was the greater glory of God; and if that 
end was to be purchased at the cost of 
much suffering to the holy friar, he loved it 
none the less. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



175 



Father Mathew's two brothers, Frank and 
Tom, died in 1843, an d he mourned for 
them long and tenderly. Probably he was 
saved from extreme depression by his great 
devotion to his work, for he seems to have 
had a more than ordinarily sensitive dispo- 
sition, and family trials weighed on him 
more heavily than on others. 

Ever since the year 1840, he had been 
urgently pressed to visit England. This 
visit was now accomplished, and, no doubt, 
was of very great service to him in distract- 
ing his thoughts from the subject of his 
grief. 

Lord Stanhope wrote to him in January, 
and said he hoped nothing would occur to 
prevent the visit which was fixed for May, 
and that it would be hailed with extreme 
and heartfelt satisfaction by the friends of 
Temperance, and would be of infinite im- 
portance to the cause. 

The Apostle visited all the large towns in 
England, where he administered the pledge 



1 76 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

to thousands. The Catholic clergy received 
him with the greatest warmth; which, in- 
deed, they might well do, if only for his na- 
tionality, since the greater number of them, 
then, as now, were Irish. The bishops, also, 
were anxious that he should be their guest ; 
but he generally refused their hospitality, as 
he preferred a hotel, where, as h^ himself 
said, " he could be free to see all persons, 
rich and poor, at all hours. " 

This determination led to an amusing ex- 
pedient on the part of a good member of 
the Society of Friends. He had heard of 
Father Mathew's determination to remain 
at a hotel, and he knew, every one knew, 
that when the good Father said a thing, he 
meant it. But the Friend was positively 
determined to entertain Father Mathew, so 
he got a large board and had the word 
Hotel painted on it, in large letters, and 
put up over his door. 

Then he waited on Father Mathew and 
asked him to stop at his hotel, a request to 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ jj 

which he at once acceded. The friend was 
greatly pleased. Father Mathew certainly 
thought the establishment a model one. 
Everything was so orderly ; everything so 
quiet ; there was so little bell-ringing ; and 
then all his possible wants were anticipated, 
and his few requests attended to with a 
promptness which he had certainly never 
before experienced in any public establish- 
ment. 

But Father Mathew was too much occu- 
pied in his work, and too innocent himself 
ever to suspect any fraud on the part of 
others. It was not until he had remained 
some days in the " Hotel," that he dis- 
covered the trick that had been played 
upon him. It was then too late for him to 
make any change, even if it had been 
necessary. 

But his visit to England, however useful 
to others, was very trying to himself per- 
sonally, for he was continually invited to 
the houses of great people. These invita- 



1 78 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

tions he did not like to decline, because he 
hoped these great people might be of ser- 
vice to the cause he had at heart ; for the 
rich and noble have often to be won and 
caressed into doing good works, which seem 
almost a matter of course to the poor. 

If he refused these invitations they would 
be offended, and, perhaps, would cease to 
patronize the cause w r hich they ought to 
have considered it the highest honor to as- 
sist. He, like a true Apostle, was obliged 
to be all things to all men ; but in so doing 
he w r as obliged to suffer, as all who work 
earnestly for God must do. The late hours, 
the disarrangement of his usual habits, the 
waste of time, or, at least, the loss of time 
which he was obliged to give to these peo- 
ple, and which he was obliged, also, to take 
from the few hours which he allowed him- 
self for rest ; all this was, indeed, hard to 
poor human nature ; but we cannot doubt 
that he has his reward for the sacrifice 
now. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



179 



Besides this his life was more than once 
endangered by the wickedness of those who 
thought that by killing him, they could do 
themselves service, for they would not ever 
make a pretence that it was for God. 

It is to the everlasting credit of the Irish 
Protestants, as well as Catholics, that they 
never offered any serious opposition, and 
were very far from offering anything even 
approaching to violence, to the man who 
certainly injured the trade of great num- 
bers. But it was not so in England. The 
public-house keepers at Bermondsey and 
Westminster attacked the Apostle 'violent- 
ly, and only for the Irish, who were too 
numerous in those parts of London to be 
treated with impunity, it is almost certain 
that Father Mathew would have fallen a 
victim to their violence. 

Even the English Protestant papers ad- 
mitted this, though they did not make any 
observations on the difference between Sax- 
on and Celtic morality. An attempt was 



1 80 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 

even made to break down the platforms oc- 
cupied by Father Mathew and his friends, 
which, if it had succeeded, would have 
caused a most fearful sacrifice of human 
life. How terrible is the infatuation, how 
cruel the policy of those who are willing to 
destroy hundreds for their own selfish ends ! 
And yet, terrible as this seems, it was only 
the life of their body which could have 
been injured by this diabolical scheme. Are 
there not hundreds who deliberately des- 
troy, or, at least, assist in the destruction 
of their fellow-creatures, by tempting them, 
by actually advising them to take intoxi- 
cating drinks, which are poison to their 
souls ? 

Protestant prejudice was also worked on, 
as it has been worked on again and again ? 
both in England and America, for wicked 
ends. 

When nothing else would keep the people 
from the holy friar, the cry was raised that 
he was a " papist," and that no good Protest- 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THEW. \%\ 

ant should go near him, or get his blessing ; 
as if Protestants had not souls to save as 
well as Catholics ; as if they were not in as 
much, and even more danger, from the 
demon Drink. 

Truly, it matters little to the Devil how 
he hinders a good work, so long as it is 
hindered. 

But if the holy priest was tried by the 
enemy, he was, also, a little consoled by the 
faithful. The noble family of the Duke 
of Norfolk have always been forward in 
every good work. The name of Norfolk 
has been, and still is, seen in all lists of 
charitable subscriptions, and the munificence 
of each member of the family is only exceed- 
ed by their piety. 

It was, then, a special source of joy and 

consolation to Father Mathew, when he 

saw the head of that noble house on his 

knees before him, asking for the pledge, like 

the poorest Irishman. For once, he hesitated 

to give it. He knew the value of such an 
16 



1 82 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

accession to the ranks of Temperance, but 
he knew also, that gentlemen in the position 
of this nobleman might find extreme difficulty 
in practising total abstinence, even though 
they might be most anxious to do so ; he 
feared, also, that some impulse of enthusiasm 
might be the cause of so unusual an ac- 
tion. 

But, the noble youth assured him that he 
had received Holy Communion that morn- 
ing, and that he had reflected carefully on 
the step which he was about to take. This 
was sufficient, and the illustrious name was 
at once added to the roll of honor. 

Father Mathew had an interview with the 
Duke of Wellington about the same time. 
Father Mathew claimed the Duke as a 
disciple. 

" How can that be, Father Mathew?" he 
replied. " I am not a teetotaller ; though I am 
a very moderate man/' 

" Oh, but you are a temperate man, your 
grace," he answered ; " for if you had not so 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



183 



cool a head, you would not have been the 
illustrious Duke of Wellington. 

And this certainly was true ; for no man 
given to intemperance, has ever distinguish- 
ed himself in any art or profession. 




CHAPTER XIII. 




A Protestant bishop— Dr. Stanley invites Father Mathew to 
his house — Father Mathew, even when receiving distinguish- 
ed visitors does not neglect his work — Loss of necessary 
rest — Trials from his own servant — His pecuniary em- 
barrassments weigh him down — Cause of them, and indiffer- 
ence of rich people — The Famine year. 

HE Protestant bishop of Norwich, 
Dr. Stanley, a very celebrated 
man, was one of the many gentle- 
men who were anxious to show respect and 
hospitality to Father Mathew. He arranged 
for a meeting to honor the Apostle and his 
cause, and also requested the favor of his 
company at his own house, at any time or 
hour that might be most convenient. 

Father Mathew accepted the invitation, 
and his visit to Norwich was not one of the 
least successful or remarkable of his many 
triumphs in England. 
(184) 



. LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 185 

He had a very busy time of it after his re- 
turn back again to Cork ; for all his work was 
in arrear, and the very fame of all he had done 
in England, helped to bring many a poor fel- 
low to his feet ; besides this, he was neces- 
sarily occupied with visitors, each of whom 
thought he had a good claim on Father 
Mathew's time and attention. 

Visitors came from England, from Scot- 
land, from the Continent of Europe, and 
from America, and all were received with 
equal courtesy and attention, and treated 
as if the good friar's only object in life was 
receiving company, and hospitality. On 
such occasions a sudden interruption would 
occur to the conversation, no matter what 
the subject might be. 

Father Mathew's heart was in his work ; 
and while he played the host to the de- 
light and admiration of his visitors, he still 
managed to " keep an eye " on the window ; 
for from the window he could see any 
stray sheep who might be coming to him, 
16* 



1 86 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IT. 

half in hope, and half in fear. He knew 
well how hard the struggle was, how busy 
the demon was, how the cruel wolf was 
watching to see would it not be possible to 
spring on his prey, even at the last mo- 
ment. Indeed, the last moment was what 
seemed to be most dangerous, for the last 
effort of diabolical malice and craft would 
be made then. 

And so the true Father, the good shep- 
herd, was ready for the foe, and with one 
spring he would dart from his seat and run 
out to welcome the poor sinner, and lead 
him in with triumph and love. It mattered 
little to him who the visitor might be, the 
poor soul's salvation was of far more conse- 
quence. When his mission was accom- 
plished, he would return and resume the 
conversation until another call came for the 
exercise of his sublime charity. 

His correspondence was of necessity very 
large, and some of the letters he received 
were curious productions. There were 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. i%] 

some who had taken the pledge in a sort 
of enthusiasm, and of these were some who 
wanted to be released from its restraints. 
They did not like to break their vow de- 
liberately, and so they wanted a release from 
" his reverence/* trying to save their con- 
siences by this artifice, and yet to indulge 
their unhappy propensities. An immedi- 
ate reply was always and urgently demand- 
ed by these poor people, they, like many 
others, fancying that their affairs were of 
the greatest moment, and not being able to 
understand that his " reverence " had many 
other occupations besides attending to their 
little requests. 

Many and many an hour the poor Father 
was obliged to steal from his rest, which 
seemed absolutely necessary in order to 
attend to the countless claims on his time 
and patience ; but he never murmured. 

His servant, John, who was a character, 
and certainly the master's master, was the 
cause in various ways of many trials. Some- 



1 88 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

times when Father Mathew managed to 
get a short time early in the day for letter- 
writing, he was visited by his domestic, 
who, for what reason it is impossible to say, 
took this special opportunity for trying his 
patience. 

He would make dusting an excuse for 
conversation, and after much unnecessary 
cleaning of articles already clean, he would 
at last make a raid on Father Mathew's 
desk. This was really too much even for 
the patience of the Apostle ; and he would 
at last exclaim, " John, if you continue to go 
on in this dreadful way, I declare I must 
leave the house." 

But Father Mathew's greatest trial now, 
and probably the very greatest trial of his 
whole life, was the pecuniary difficulties in 
which he became involved in consequence 
of his immense charity. The noblemen and 
gentlemen who were so anxious to pay him 
honor in England and Ireland, never seem 
to have thought it at all necessary to 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 89 

give him any pecuniary assistance in his 
work. 

They talked a great deal ; it was, certain- 
ly, very pleasant to honor themselves by 
honoring this good man ; but there the 
matter ended ; the talk certainly cost noth- 
ing, and it gave them a little temporary 
fame. 

This was very pleasant, very unexpensive, 
and very worthless. 

The evil was also very much aggravated 
by the fact, that it was generally supposed 
that Father Mathew was wealthy ; every one 
supposed that every one else gave him 
money ; it was a convenient excuse for per- 
sonal parsimony ; and, then, it was said, that 
he must have made thousands, nay, more, 
millions of money by the sale of his temper- 
ance rriedal. 

Poor Father Mathew ! and, yet, we may 
not dare to call him poor ; for, perhaps, the 
trials he endured in this matter, though, or 
rather because they almost broke his heart, 



190 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



are now the brightest jewels of his eternal 
crown. There are few saints, indeed, who 
have not been calummniated and tried in 
some way or other, who have not had to 
suffer from the lying misrepresentations of 
enemies, or the ignorance of friends, and 
our holy Irish soggarth was not an excep- 
tion to this general rule. 

His medals, by which he had been sup- 
posed to make so much money, were an ac- 
tual source of loss to him, and heavy loss 
too. He gave the medals away by thou- 
sands ; and this was absolutely necessary. 
It was the very poorest who came to him 
for the pledge ; it was the very poorest who 
needed to take it most ; and at that very 
time, it was stated on official authority, 
that there were two millions and a half of 
people in Ireland who were all but utterly 
destitute. 

At last Father Mathew was arrested in 
Dublin by a bailiff, while administering the 
pledge ; this aroused his friends, and he was 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 191 

obliged to allow Mr. Maguire, now M. P. for 
Cork, a man who has never ceased working 
for God and Ireland, to assist in some way 
in obtaining the necessary means for free- 
ing himself from debt, and for carrying on 
his great work. 

His friends did not fail him, and he was 
released from embarrassment, but only for 
the time. The great " demonstrations " 
which had been held in Dublin sometime 
before, at which so many people talked so 
much, and did so little, turned out useless 
for all practical purposes, as such demon- 
strations generally do. The great people 
who made speeches never gave one penny 
to the object of the meeting, and the " ex- 
penses " were not nearly covered by the 
receipts, so that there was actually a debt 
left after the affair was concluded. 

Of the famine year, with all its horrors> we 
are happily not obliged to write at present. 
It must, however, be observed, that Father 
Mathew devoted himself then to his people, 



1 52 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE JV. 

with greater assiduity and self-sacrifice than 
ever, if that were possible. 

He cared both for their bodies and their 
souls; he strove unceasingly to obtain sup- 
plies of food from the wealthy English peo- 
ple, to whom his name alone was a suffici- 
ent recommendation; and he proclaimed the 
necessity of Temperance more and more, as 
well he might. The vice of drunkenness, 
terrible and degrading as it is at all times, 
was then, if possible, still more terrible and 
still more degrading. 

" I am here/' he said, " on one occasion, 
in the name of the Lord. I am here for your 
good. This is a time to try men's souls ; 
and that man or that woman must be a 
monster who would drink while a fellow- 
creature was dying for want of food. I 
don't blame the brewers or the distillers ; I 
blame those who make them so. If they 
could make more money in any other •way, 
they would; but, while so many of the 
people are fools enough to buy and drink 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. \ 93 

their vile manufactures, they will continue 
in the trade. Is it not a terrible thing to 
think that so much wholesome grain, that 
God intended for the support of human life, 
should be converted into a maddening 
poison, for the destruction of human bodies 
and souls ?" 
17 



CHAPTER XIV. 



The Americans help Ireland in the famine year — Father 
Mathew gets a pension from the English Government — It 
all goes in charity — He is attacked by paralysis — His re- 
covery and voyage to America — He is received therewith 
the greatest honor — His extraordinary labors in the United 
States — He refuses to interfere in politics — The faithful 
Irish — He is entertained by the President at a sumptuous 
banquet. 




HE people of America had rendered 
great assistance to Ireland in the 
famine year. On the 13th of April, 
1847, the Jamestown arrived in Cork, laden 
with provisions, and commanded by Captain 
Forbes, who was the bearer of an invitation 
to Father Mathew. Captain Forbes was 
most anxious to take Father Mathew back 
with him to America, but the true-hearted 
soggarth would not leave his country in her 
hour of need. The commander of another 
(194) 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



195 



vessel also came to him before leaving Cork, 
to try and persuade Father Mathew to 
make the return voyage with him ; but he 
would not leave his post. 

Dr. Murphy, the Catholic bishop of Cork, 
died on the 7th of April, 1847 \ an d the clergy 
of Cork unanimously elected Father Mathew 
as his successor. The good priest could 
not but feel gratified at such a cordial evi- 
dence of their confidence in him, and of their 
respect for him ; and as he believed that his 
elevation to the Episcopate would contribute 
to the advancement of his work, he was both 
ready and willing to accept the dignity. 

But this dignity was not to be his. The 
holy see decided against the votes of the 
clergy, and the present bishop of Cork, the 
Right Rev. Dr. Delany, was elevated to 
the Episcopal bench. There is no doubt 
that this decision was a wise one, and that 
a bishop needs very special qualifications, 
which qualifications Father Mathew, with 
all his zeal and sincerity, had not. 



1 96 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

His work was in another sphere ; his ca- 
pabilities of usefulness of another order. 
The cares of a diocese, if properly attended 
to, would be sufficient for any one man ; 
but, if he had attempted to combine with 
those cares the labors of his Apostolic life, he 
must have failed in both* 

In the year 1847, the English government 
performed one of its few acts of justice to 
Ireland, by allowing Father Mathew an 
annual pension of three hundred pounds. 
But he was none the richer for it. He 
never expended a penny on himself that 
was not of absolute necessity, and this 
money was now devoted to paying the 
policy of an insurance on his life for the 
sole benefit of his creditors. 

Father Mathew had always observed the 
fasts of the church v/ith great strictness; 
but neither his advancing years, nor his 
many labors, labors which might well have 
broken down the strongest man, were al- 
lowed by him as a plea for the very least 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



1 97 



dispensation. When expostulated with by 
any of his friends on this subject, he would 
say " that he was the strongest man in Ire- 
land, " and turn off the conversation with a 
pleasant smile. . 

He fasted with his usual strictness, and 
worked with his usual zeal during the heat of 
1848 ; but one morning, when trying to rise 
from bed at his usual early hour, he fell 
prostrate on the ground, struck down by 
paralysis. 

His secretary, who slept in the room be- 
low, heard the fall, and ran to his assis- 
tance. He was helped back to bed, and the 
doctor sent for — an old friend. On his ar- 
rival, Father Mathew told him, with one of 
his sweetest smiles, and as if it were not a 
matter of the least consequence, that he had 
been struck with paralysis. 

While the usual remedies were being ap- 
plied, he talked calmly to his friends, and 
said, " it was not much matter how it ended. 
If a priest had done his duty, and was pre- 
17* 



198 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE'W. 



pared, the time of his death was of little 
consequence. " And in truth, for him, the 
sooner he died, the sooner he would obtain 
his crown, and enter the rest he had earned 
by his life of labor ; but for poor Ireland it 
was necessary that he should live a little 
longer, that he should suffer and work a 
little more ; and the cries of her faithful 
children ascended before the throne of 
God, and were heard by Him. In a few 
weeks the Apostle of Temperance was so 
far recovered as to be able to resume his 
labors for them once more. 

After his recovery he visited Dublin, 
where he gave evidence for Mr. Gavin 
Duffy, at the State Trials, and continued 
his usual occupation of administering the 
pledge. In 1849, he carried out his long-plan- 
ned idea of visiting America. His friends and 
his physicians tried to dissuade him from 
this undertaking on account of his recent 
illness ; but it is probable that the very 
reason which they adduced for preventing 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. \^g 

him from undertaking it, was the very 
reason which induced him to undertake it. 

They feared that his health; already un- 
dermined by paralysis, would suffer severe- 
ly from such an attempt, and that his valua- 
ble life would be shortened. He knew full 
well that one attack of paralysis was the 
sure precursor of another, that the hour 
might come soon when he could no longer 
work, and that his work should be accom- 
plished if possible before that hour. 

The night was coming, that night which 
must precede the dawn. Like all the saints 
he felt that there would be time enough for 
rest in Heaven. Like all the saints, he wished 
to devote every moment of his time to his 
Master's service. 

He knew that he might never see his 
family or friends again, and he bid them all 
an affectionate farewell before setting out. 
A voyage to America then was by no means 
the quick and easy passage that it is to-day, 
and Father Mathew suffered much from the 



200 LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 

confinement which proved so great a con- 
trast to his ordinary mode of life. Still he 
was not idle. How could he be? And as 
soon as he recovered from the usual sick- 
ness of the first few days, he devoted him- 
self to the emigrants who were on board, 
and spent the greater part of his time with 
them, hearing their confessions, adminis- 
tering the pledge, or giving them good ad- 
vice. 

On his arrival in New York, he was re- 
ceived by Mr. Nesmith who took him at 
once to his own house, where he rested un- 
til the next day, when he was to receive a 
public reception. The " rest " was certain- 
ly a short one, but it was long enough for 
his zeal. 

On Monday, 2d July, 1849, Father 
Mathew was welcomed to America by the 
municipal authorities, Alderman Hawes 
taking the lead. He proceeded in the 
steamer Sylph to Staten Island, the Castle 
Garden having been chosen as the place of 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 2 1 

meeting. The whole city turned out in 
holiday array, and the cheers of the faithful 
Irish, though not as numerous a body then 
as now, were heard in every quarter. May- 
or Woodhull invited him to accept the hos- 
pitalities of the city, and well had it pre- 
pared for the reception of the illustrious 
guest. 

The " Herald" thus describes the reception 
at the Irving House : 

" As you enter the hall, a life-like painting 
of Father Mathew meets your eye, at the 
further end right over the bar ; and in the 
lobby window, immediately behind, and a 
little above, there is a beautiful white satin 
blind, with the inscription " Glory be to God 
on high ; and on earth peace to men of good 
will ;" then immediately underneath, the 
word " Temperance !" At the front of this 
is an exquisitely painted wreath of flowers, 
with Father Mathew's autograph, in large 
hand in the centre. The suite of rooms are 
on the sgcond floor, and consist of four, a 



202 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IF. 

reception-parlor, a drawing-room, and a 
bed-room, all on the same range, and com- 
municating with each other, and a dining- 
room at the other side of the hall. 

" These rooms are all furnished with the 
newest and richest furniture, and in the 
most modern style of fashion. The tables, 
chairs and sofas of the finest massive rose- 
wood ; the carpets, tapestry, velvets, and 
every thing else in keeping. The bedstead 
is also of rosewood and has a magnificent 
lace canopy." 

Father Mathew was entertained at a pub- 
lic banquet, in the evening, where he drank 
the health of the Mayor and citizens of 
New York in a bumper of water. Proba- 
bly a sincerer toast was never proposed or 
quaffed. At last he was persuaded to return 
for the night, but he managed to avoid the 
lace-curtained couch which had been pre- 
pared for him, and took his rest in an hum- 
ble bed which had been assigned to his 
secretary. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE IV. 203 

For a fortnight he held levees in the City 
Hall, to which rich and poor, high and low H 
young and old, thronged by thousands. 
It was indeed a scene which had never be- 
fore been witnessed in any great city ; such 
as probably will never be witnessed again. 
All classes of men came to him and he re- 
ceived them alike, for it was souls he sought. 
The soul of the peasant was as dear to him, 
and it was also to his Master, as the soul of 
the man who counted his dollars by millions. 

His affectionate heart was not a little 
touched by the love which the poorer class- 
es showed him. The soggarth from old Erin 
would have been welcome to them, even if 
he had not been Father Mathew. Father 
Mathew with his usual thoughtful charity 
generally inquired from what part of Ire- 
land each visitor came ; and he generally 
had some news to tell them, in return, of that 
part of the dear old land they loved so 
well. 

The fatigue of these visits must have 



204 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



been immense, but, as he had said himself, 
" what matter ?" It is only when people work 
very hard for God that their friends get 
anxious, lest they should break down or 
overwork themselves ; when they are labor- 
ing for temporal affairs, no one concerns 
himself; and yet if a man is praised for work- 
ing hard to place his family well in this 
world, how much more should a man be 
praised for working hard to raise hundreds 
and thousands of souls to the very highest 
place in the kingdom of heaven. 

Father Mathew's next visit was to Bos- 
ton, where an attempt was made to try and 
induce him to join one public party in pref- 
erence to another, a proceeding which 
would have been highly injurious to his 
work. With consummate prudence Father 
Mathew avoided the trap which was set for 
him, and declared that the Temperance cause 
was his one object, and that he could not 
identify himself with any other, no matter 
what that other might be. 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



205 



The result was a stormy controversy, in 
which Father Mathew was blamed by both 
sides, and sometimes in very bitter language. 
It was certainly a pitiful exhibition of human 
nature. Had he taken a side, the rejected 
party might have had some excuse for an- 
noyance ; but, his neutrality ought to have 
protected him, even if his mission had not 
done so. His sensitive and delicate mind 
suffered from all this in a way which his 
persecutors, we must hope, could never 
have understood ; and this, with incessant 
labor, brought on a severe illness in the 
fall. He recovered, however, and visited 
Washington in December, when a resolu- 
tion was unanimously carried in Congress, 
admitting him to a seat on the floor of the 
House. When he availed himself of this 
compliment, the members rose in a body to 
receive him. 

A proposal to offer him a similar honor 
was made in the Senate, but the stupid 
prejudices of some individual produced an 
18 



2o6 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

opposition ; the resolution, however 7 was 
passed by a considerable majority ; and on 
Thursday, the 20th December, 1844, Father 
Mathew was entertained by the President 
of the United States, at a banquet, to 
which fifty of the leading men of the day 
were invited. Though wine was placed on 
the table, the host and many of the party re- 
frained from the indulgence, out of respect 
to their guest. 




CHAPTER XV. 

Another attack of paralysis— Father Mathew works on all the 
same — He wishes only to die at his post — Extract from the 
New York Herald — He returns. to Ireland — He says Mass for 
the last time — His visit to Madeira — He returns again to 
Ireland — His touching humility — His spirit of prayer — His 
holy, happy death— Conclusion. 




IATHER MATHEW was again 
attacked by paralysis while going 
up the Mississippi from New Or- 
leans to Nashville. He had already begun to 
feel home-sick, and had written to that 
effect to his devoted friend, Mrs. Rash- 
bourne, the wife of a merchant prince in 
Liverpool famous for his charities. The 
following extract from an address which he 
delivered in Cincinnati a few months before 
this attack, will show what he felt and suf- 
fered : 

" In the protracted varfare which I have 

(207) 



203 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

waged against the wide-spread evil of in- 
temperance, and which, I trust, has ever 
been conducted in a spirit of Christian 
charity, I have had many serious difficulties 
to encounter, and much interested hostility 
to overcome. The growing infirmities of 
age, aggravated by repeated attacks of a 
dangerous and insidious malady, now de- 
mand retirement and repose. At the close 
of a long and, thank Heaven, a successful 
campaign, I find myself, it is true, enfeebled 
in health, shattered in constitution, and 
destitute of this world's wealth, yet, with 
the Apostle, * I glory in my infirmity/ 
contracted as it has been, in the noblest of 
causes ; and I still feel that no sacrifice, 
whether of health, of property, or of life 
itself, is too great, to save from ruin and 
perdition, the humblest of those for whom 
our Divine Saviour has willingly shed His 
most precious blood." 

He embarked for Europe on the 8th Nov., 
1851, in the Pacific; but before he left the 






LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 209 

American shore he published a " fare weir* 
address to the citizens of the United States, 
which commences thus: 

" My mission amongst you closes to-day. 
I cannot take my final departure from the 
shores of your great and generous country 
without publicly recording my deep and 
grateful appreciation of the generous sym- 
pathy, the delicate attention, and the unre- 
mitting kindness which I have experienced 
in every section of this vast Union. The 
noble reception which you have spontane- 
ously tendered to a stranger, known merely 
as an humble missionary in the cause of 
Temperance reform, proves the devotion of 
your people to the interests of humanity, 
however feebly championed, and has en- 
deared America and her people to me by a 
.thousand ties too sacred for utterance. 

" Though the renewed attacks of a painful 
and insidious malady have rendered it im- 
possible that I could (without imminent 
danger to my life) make those public ex- 
18* 



2 io LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

ertions which were never spared by me, in 
the days of my health and of my vigor, I 
thank heaven I have been yet instrumental 
in adding to the ranks of Temperance over 
600,000 disciples in America. I have been 
much cheered during the past week by the 
receipt of letters from all parts of the States, 
bearing unimpeachable testimony to the 
strict fidelity with which this voluntary 
obligation is observed. I need scarcely 
add, that virtue and the duties which re- 
ligion inculcates, together with peace, 
plenty, domestic comfort, health and happi- 
ness, have everywhere followed in its 
train." 

The " New York Herald" wrote thus of his 
mission : 

" On reviewing his exertions for the past 
two years and a half, we are forcibly 
struck with the vast amount of physical fa- 
tigue which he must have undergone in the 
discharge of his onerous duties. Over six- 
ty years of age, enfeebled in health, and 



LIFE OF FATHER MATHEW. 2 II 

shattered in constitution, he has yet, with 
all the ardor of his former zeal, vigorous- 
ly prosecuted his labor of love. He has 
visited since his arrival in America twenty- 
five States of the Union, has administered 
the Temperance pledge in over three hun- 
dred of our principal towns and cities, has 
added more than half a million of our pop- 
ulation to the long muster-roll of his disci- 
ples, and, in accomplishing this praiseworthy 
object, has travelled thirty-seven thousand 
miles, which, added to two voyages across 
the Atlantic, would make a total distance 
nearly equal to twice the circumnavigation 
of the globe. Though laboring under a 
disease which the slightest undue excite- 
ment may render fatal, never has he shrunk 
from his work of benevolence and love. 
North and south, east and west, was he to 
be seen unostentatiously pursuing the 
heavenly task of reclaiming his fallen brother, 
welcoming the prodigal son back into the 
bosom of society, uttering the joyful tidings 



2 1 2 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

that no man is past the hour of amendment, 
dealing in no denunciation, indulging in no 
hypocritical cant or pretensions to excep- 
tional sanctity, but quietly and unobtrusive- 
ly pursuing his peaceful course, and, like his 
illustrious sainted prototype, reasoning of 
( temperance, justice and judgment to 
come/ When his physicians recently re- 
commended absolute repose, in the midst of 
his labors in a crowded town, as indispen- 
sable to his recovery from the last attack 
of paralysis, * Never/ said the venerable 
man, ' will I willingly sink into a state of in- 
glorious inactivity, never will I desert my 
post in the midst of the battle.' ' ' But 
your life,' replied his physician, ( is at 
stake.' ' If so,' said he, ' it cannot be sac- 
rificed in a better cause. If I am to die, I 
will die in harness.' " 

After his return to Ireland, Father 
Mathew went to reside at Lehenagh with 
his own family, where it was hoped he 
might recover his health. Here he had 



LIFE OF FATHER MATHEW. 213 

another fit, but this was apoplexy. He was 
so little aware of it, however, that when he 
awoke in the morning, he said to his faith- 
ful attendant, " David, this is the Feast of 
the Purification, I must prepare to say Mass." 
His devotion to the adorable sacrifice was 
indeed very great, and he never omitted 
celebrating it every day, no matter how 
great might have been the fatigue of the day 
preceding. About ten months before his 
death, he staggered one day immediately af- 
ter the Consecration at Mass, and nearly fell. 
The clerk came quietly to his assistance, and 
he continued the adorable sacrifice, but he 
never again ventured to celebrate it. 

He was now taken to Madeira, where he 
remained some months, but he rallied only for 
a little. His time had come. May we all be 
as ready for the summons, when we shall be 
called. After his return to Ireland, he re- 
moved to Queenstown, where he might have 
been seen, day after day, tottering along in 
some sunny spot, with his hand on the 



214 



LIFE OF FATHER MA THE W. 



shoulder of a boy who attended him. It 
was a pitiful sight, and one which could not 
be witnessed without deep emotion. 

This man, once so full of strength, even 
as he himself said, probably the strongest 
man in Ireland, could not now walk alone. 
Perhaps it was necessary for his perfect sanc- 
tification that he should endure this last hu- 
miliation, for such it was to him. Perhaps as 
he had not even known weakness for so 
many years of his life, it was necessary that 
he should know it even now. 

He was still the same tender, loving, affec- 
tionate Father ; still the same true-hearted 
friend, and he had still the great cause as 
the one object of his life. 

At last the summons came. He had spent 
most of his time in prayer for months. Often 
when his friends came in to see him, they 
found him on his knees ; and when they 
spoke of his well-spent life, of all the good 
he had done, he would beg of them, with 
touching humility, to change the subject. 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 



215 



A few days before his death he received 
the last and fatal attack of paralysis. He 
lay for several days, conscious, but scarcely 
able to articulate. Even then he made 
signs that some persons who wished to take 
the pledge from him should be allowed into 
his room, and he lifted his palsied hand to 
make on them the holy sign. 

He passed away calmly and peacefully, as 
one in sleep, on the Feast of the Immaculate 
Conception, December the 8th, 1856. Can 
we doubt that Mary came for her faithful 
son, and took him herself to his eternal re- 
ward. 

Of his funeral we must not speak. He 
lies in the cemetery he himself planned, and 
in the place he himself chose, under the 
shadow of the Cross. Here the poor come 
to pray, and here they obtained, through 
his intercession, such blessings as are only 
heard of as having been obtained through 
the merits and intercessions of the saints. 

The Protestant patriot, Smith O'Brien, 



2 1 6 LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 

even thus writes of him : " For myself, 
whether he be or be not canonized as a saint 
of the Church of Rome, I am disposed to 
regard him as an Apostle who was specially 
deputed on a divine mission by the Al- 
mighty, and invested with power almost 
miraculous. To none of the ordinary op- 
erations of human agency can I ascribe 
the success which attended his efforts to 
repress one of the besetting sins of the Irish 
nation. If I had read in history that such 
success had attended the labors of an un- 
pretending priest, whose chief characteristic 
was modest simplicity of demeanor, I own 
that I should have distrusted the narrative 
as an exaggeration ; but we have been all 
of us witnesses to the fact that myriads 
simultaneously obeyed his advice, and, at 
his bidding, abandoned a favorite indul- 
gence/' 

He is dead, indeed, as far as this world is 
concerned, or, perhaps, we should rather 
say, as far as his temporal mission with this 



LIFE OF FA THER MA THE W. 21 J 

world is concerned. But he still lives. He 
lives in the memory of millions of his fellow- 
countrymen. He lives in the work which 
he began, and which we may hope will be 
perpetuated- in his name, and assisted by his 
intercession, as long as the demon Drink 
needs to be exorcised from the bodies of 
men. 

He lives ; let it be ours to honor him, to 
honor the noblest of Irishmen even now, by 
our faithful co-operation in his work ; and 
let us be assured that if the angels of heaven 
know of and rejoice over the repentance of 
one sinner, so, also, do the saints know and 
rejoice, when we .imitate their example, 
when we invoke their assistance, when we 
honor them by our fidelity to their teaching. 

Let us ask ourselves, When our time comes 
to die, as come it must, shall we desire to 
have a holy, peaceful end like his, or do we 
desire to be the prey of devils ? 

As we live, so shall we die. We can now 
make our choice. If nothing else can give 
19 



2 18 LIFE OF FA THER MA THEW. 

us courage to resist the demon of Intemper- 
ance, if he is hunting us on to our ruin, let 
us think of death, and ask ourselves how we 
shall answer to God at that dreadful hour, if 
we willfully cast from us the means of our 
salvation, if we have refused the assistance 
offered to us in the sacraments and by Tem- 
perance Societies, to overcome our evil in- 
clinations. 

A drunken Irishman is a disgrace to Ire- 
land and to religion. A sober Irishman has 
never yet failed to keep his place with 
honor, whatever may be his state in life. 

THE END. 

Let us say the prayer, " Sweet Heart of 
Mary, be my Salvation " (300 days indulgence), 
and u My Jesus Mercy" ioo days indulgence, 
for the promotion of Temperance Societies. 



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